New Orleans artist Richard Thomas was stunned when he entered his St. Claude Avenue studio on Sept. 2. The old bank building at the corner of Spain Street had been broken into, and thieves had ripped out copper plumbing pipe and three roof vents. The damage to the vents allowed water to run in, ruining the ceiling.

But worst of all, the intruders – Thomas assumes there were more than one – ransacked the workplace, rummaging through his print drawers, record collection and art materials, tossing whatever didn’t interest them on the floor.

For a second, Thomas said, he took it personally, imagining that someone had it out for him. Why else would someone vandalize everything? But when he found hypodermic needles on the roof, Thomas realized the culprits were probably just addicts, searching

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