A new kind of crime wave emerged in Summer 2007 in Eastern New Orleans.

Home invasion crimes are being committed with the residents collected, bound and some shot. Some of the shootings have proven fatal, more often victims are just wounded in the back or legs. African-American criminals seem to be preying on the Latino community of construction workers as they return home from the job flush with cash. Three incidents involved victims on Savoie Drive in the Asian community in Village de l' Est.

Why? Are there gangs involved or just a few thugs? Is cash the common denominator? Drugs? Did the victims know the assailants? So little is reported.

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