…In most cases, he utilized a slingshot to penetrate the businesses’ front glass in order to gain entry.
The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in connection with several recent business burglaries.
Hien Ho (DOB 1/1/1973) of Ponchatoula was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail on nine counts of Simple Burglary and one count of Attempted Simple Burglary. Over the past few months, Ho targeted small businesses throughout St. Tammany, making forced entry through the front glass of these businesses, and stole currency from the store registers. In most cases, he utilized a slingshot to penetrate the businesses’ front glass in order to gain entry.
During the investigation, it was discovered that several other surrounding agencies were investigating the same type of business burglaries within their jurisdictions. Investigators were able to link cases in St. Tammany to the same black, 2017 F-150 truck that was being used in connection with crimes in other jurisdictions. Through physical evidence and surveillance footage, authorities were able to identify Ho as the suspect. Several additional charges will be forthcoming from surrounding agencies, including Jefferson Parish, Tangipahoa Parish and municipalities on the Northshore.
The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all agencies involved for their assistance, especially the Ponchatoula Police Department and the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office as well as the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office, which provided DNA analysis.
Sheriff Randy Smith said solving the case was truly a cooperative effort of several entities working together and sharing information and resources.
