Capt. Higgins sought to help solve animal shelter theft

The story about a July theft at the St. Landry Parish Animal control Office in Opelousas refuses to go away. 
That it won’t go away is mostly due to Pam Gautreau, District 8 Parish Council member. 
When the Council meets Nov. 18, Gautreau is expected to ask that Capt. Clay Higgins put the theft at the office on Crime Stoppers. 
“I’ve been bringing this up hoping that Mr. (Bill) Fontenot will have an answer as to whether or not any of the monies or the safe have been recovered,” Gautreau said at the Council’s Nov. 4 Administrative-Finance Committee meeting. 
Fontenot, parish president, replied, “Mrs. Gautreau, the same answer. It is out of my hands. The sheriff and his team are investigating that matter and that’s where it remains.”
Gautreau said, “I’m almost tempted to make a motion that we request Lt. Higgins put this on Crime Stoppers because Lt. Higgins seems to be able to get things done. 
Wayne Ardoin, committee chairman, noted that Higgins has recently been promoted to captain. 
Higgins has gained celebrity status as the spokesman for Crime Stoppers. 
Gautreau said, “People in this parish have found it in their heart to donate their monies to the animal shelter. The money is coming in the front door and being stolen out the back door.”
Gautreau did make a motion to take the request to Higgins and it passed the committee. 
Voting to send the matter to the full Council were Huet Dupre, Alvin Stelly, Gautreau and Jimmie Edwards. Committee member Hurlin Dupre voted “No.”
A report from the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office said $3,206 in currency in a small black safe was stolen at the 255 Hangar Road, Opelousas, office. 
The theft occurred between July 10 and July 13 when it was discovered. 
An employee noticed a small crack in her office door and when she went to the count the money in the safe  she discovered it was missing. Keys to the safe also were missing. 
The employee, Stacey Sonnier, director, said there was a camera, but didn’t know how to work it. Investigators took the DVR security system. 
There was no sign of forced entry into the building. 
“Stacy said whoever made entry into the building must have had keys or was a  former employee, because all the doors were locked with deadbolt and there was no visible damage to the locks or doors where entry was made,” the report stated.