By: Las Vegas Now Staff
Thousands of valley residents are turned into victims each year after their prized possessions are stolen during a home or car burglary. What’s worse is that the suspects behind the crimes are often getting away with it.
Metro says it is doing what it can with the resources available, but victims say it is not enough. Burglary is one of the most common crimes in the valley.
One victim in southwest Las Vegas, who wishes to remain anonymous, never saw it coming.
“Shame on us for not having better home security. I knew the dog door was a little vulnerable but we have big dogs. You lock it up the best you can,” said the burglary victim.
Since his burglary last summer, he’s had to replace home computers plus put in a safe. But it’s his experience with Metro that he says frustrated him the most.
“I understand what the police are up against. It’s not that I blame them but something could definitely be improved in the system,” said the burglary victim.
He says police came to his home two hours after he called and fingerprints were not taken . Two days later, he learned his case was closed.
“When I called, I was told that the case had already been assigned and closed because there was nothing that could be done.”
Metro says unsolved burglary cases are a harsh reality. In Las Vegas last year, they saw more than 15,000 burglaries and only 10-percent were solved. Metro says because of the quick valley growth, property crimes took a back seat to violent crimes. But now, Metro says property crimes are quickly becoming a priority once again.
“I want these employees to feel the pain that our citizens feel when they home has been broken into,” said Sheriff sheriff Doug Gillespie, Metro.
Metro has brought in 14 additional detectives who are now working out of area commands to work directly with patrol officers handling the burglary calls.
My home in Las Vegas was burglarized and everything in it stolen, completly emptied! I had to go to the area command station and fill out a report because the police were to busy to respond. My insurance adjuster told me this was typical and in fact told me that i would never see any police come to my house and investigate, they never did. I left vegas shortly afterward for a smaller community where the police respond. you see a month earlier I had a teenage male who was high on drugs begin to attack my car (with me in it) in a walmart parking lot. the dispatcher hung up on me when i was panicked and calling for help. The illusion that the police are only a phone call away is only that an illusion. I was born and raised in Vegas, I spent over 40 years living there, always felt safe. But the only two times I needed the police they were too busy.
Comment by Mark J — February 16, 2008 @ 9:15 am
I also have had my car burglarized, and when I call police, i was told told I’d be put on a phone queue and called back within 72 HOURS so they could take my report. No one came to investigate or take prints, even when I told them they had also attempted to steal the vehicle itself (a key they tried to start it with was still hanging in the ignition). It took forever for me to get a report for my insurance company. It is three years later and I was just robbed again, this time why bother calling? And don’t get me started on school violence and CCSD either being overwhelmed or complacent (or both!) Beam me up to ANYWHERE….this town needs to get its priorities straight but quick…
Comment by Cathy — February 22, 2008 @ 4:40 pm
My truck was stolen yesterday. I just bought it a week ago. Didn’t even have plates on it or even given the first payment. They stole in from work (CVS Pharmacy on Buffallo/DI) just hours after I arrived at 7:30am. Bad part is that my backpack was in it (becasue of a new policy at work that limits bags we bring to work). Spare keys were in it to my apartment. When I got home, my place was wiped out. Metro was quick to respond though. Took prints and DNA, but no word yet. Too early I suppose. Welcome to Vegas: I just moved here 2 months ago.
Comment by Raymond — April 12, 2008 @ 11:11 am
My home was burglarized about 4 years ago. Police took forever to arrive, and what was worse, the case was never solved. The burglars took the whole safes and even with the priceless heirlooms. The cops came, left their stupid fingerprinting kit at my house and never responded back. I’m disgusted, I waste my tax payer money on this crap? It’s ridiculous and it’s been closed? Even with fingerprints and evidence? GOD THIS IS ONE SCREWED UP TOWN. Vegas needs to get their priority straight, if you can’t hire that many police officers that can get the job done, then don’t enlarge this damn city! Obviously if 15,000 burglaries and only 10% is solved? SOMETHING IS SCREWY HERE.
Comment by Nay — May 27, 2008 @ 12:30 am
The place where I live, a rented home, was hit by burglars yesterday. They must have been waiting for me to leave, because I had only been gone 30 minutes when I got a call from someone I knew, who just happened to be thinking that she needed to stop by the home office where I lived. She said that one of the front doors had been kicked in. I quickly returned to find my own room which had also been locked, knocked open and my special family possesions scattered about the mayhem. I felt justified anger and truly wished that I had been there when the thieves had violated my space and personal belongings. I believe there would have been a confrontation and the high risks the thieves were taking would not have left them unscathed. In my case, metro was quite helpful, though indeed it did take a while for the responding officer to arrive. A subsequent investigative duo was also very helpful. I do believe that metro needs whatever manpower it takes to respond much more quickly, from dispatch to arrival time. As citizens, we need to take every wise precaution and preparation and law enforcement needs to immediately and efficiently receive increased resources in their duties to protect and to serve.
Comment by Don B — June 3, 2008 @ 6:48 pm