Age to leave children home alone varies

The American Red Cross and WebMD provide a few tips on leaving kids home alone.

Children ages 7 and younger should never be left alone for any period of time. Those 8-10 years old should never be left more than 1½ hours and only during daylight and early evening hours. Children 11-12 years old may be responsible enough for up to three hours but not late at night. Those 13-15 years old may be left unsupervised but not overnight.

Teens 16-17 years old may be left unsupervised for as many as two consecutive overnight periods if they have proven trustworthy and responsible behavior in the past. Specific limitations should be given to them (unless you want your house to be the new “party spot” while you are out).

Be sure to use common sense when dealing with young adults and make sure they are equipped with emergency numbers to call in case they are needed. They should have their home information memorized, designate a safe house to run to if they feel they are in danger, and make specific limitations on behaviors when they are unsupervised.

This is not a one-size-fits-all list. Experience has shown us that some are more responsible than others, and some adults probably shouldn’t be trusted alone. So if you are in doubt — don’t.

March 5. Robbery: A man gives the clerk a note and leaves with a small amount of money. He is taken into custody in Las Vegas after spike strips and a brief foot pursuit at 9:12 a.m. in the 1000 block of Nevada Way.

Auto theft: A vehicle is reported stolen from the parking lot of a local bank the day before at noon. The vehicle is behind a nearby diner and was not stolen at 12:13 p.m. in the 1000 block of Arizona Street.

Burglary: A shrine parade car is reported stolen at 4:21 p.m. in the 1400 block of Pueblo Drive.

Thought for the day: I wouldn’t want to be the person found to be in possession of a Shriner’s parade car. Those guys take their benevolent activities pretty seriously.

March 6. Attempt to locate: A subject left the hospital in a gown and not much else. He reluctantly returns to his room at 4:30 a.m. in the 900 block of Adams Boulevard.

Destruction of property: Damage inside a vacant building is reported at 7:52 a.m. in the 600 block of Adams Boulevard.

Missing child: There is a report of a 2-year-old child missing from a gathering. The child is found and returned to the gathering at 5 p.m. in the 1100 block of Fuente Drive.

Thought for the day: You’ll stick out in a crowd if you’re dressed in only a hospital gown. It’s best to check out the usual way.

March 7. Family disturbance: There is a report of a couple screaming obscenities for an extended time. They are separated at 8:01 a.m. in the 300 block of Tavernier Street.

Civil: Officers receive a report of a man who wants to retrieve his vehicle from a subject he gave permission to drive it. Information given at 8:01 a.m. in the 1000 block of Arizona Street.

Suspicious: A woman is reported to be dancing in the roadway and periodically lifting her shirt. She has decided to board the bus and head back to Henderson at 11:08 a.m. in the 600 block of Adams Boulevard.

Thought for the day: Dancing in the street and lifting up your shirt is evidently more acceptable in Henderson.

March 8. Suspended registration: A driver is found to have a suspended driver’s license and registration on a traffic stop. The subject was given a courtesy transport and big citation and the vehicle is on its way to car jail at 9:18 a.m. in the area of U.S. Highway 93 and Temple Rock Drive.

Suspicious: A man reports his neighbor is target practicing in the backyard with a pellet gun. The subjects are educated about the law at 3:12 p.m. in the 1300 block of Yucca Street.

Civil: Officers receive a report that a neighbor borrowed an iron and brought it back broken. The subject says it was broken when he got it in the area of 800 Avenue A.

Thought for the day: Don’t lend something that you’ll need to prepare your clothes for work during the week.

March 9. Animal: There is a report of a dog that is continually barking when the owners are gone. Officers made contact with the owners and advised them of the issue at 3:08 a.m. in the 1000 block of Keys Drive.

Reckless driver: There are several reports about a vehicle all over the road coming from Henderson. The elderly man inside was taken to the hospital and his vehicle impounded at 12:42 p.m. in the area of Gingerwood and Slate Mountain drives.

Animal: Officers receive a report about a large dog that approached the neighbors growling. Officers made contact with the owner at 7:15 p.m. in the 1300 block of Gloria Lane.

Thought for the day: Your rights end where they trample on the rights of others. Animals are wonderful to have, but there are responsibilities with owning them. Take that seriously.

March 10. Suspicious: A caller reports that someone tried to open the door then asked to use the phone. The subject left before officers arrived at 4:01 a.m. in the 500 block of Eighth Street.

Follow-up contact: A woman at the residence was warned about educational neglect at 9:55 a.m. in the 700 block of Avenue B.

Suspicious: There is a report of a man on his hands and knees behind a residence in the dark. The subject tripped over a large rock and injured an ankle at 9:03 p.m. in the 1300 block of Red Baron Lane.

Thought for the day: A good reason to keep your doors locked is that someone may try to open it at 4 a.m. in the morning when you’re least expecting it.

March 11. Suspicious: A caller says someone is walking in the roadway. The subject was transported to the hospital earlier and was trying to locate the hotel at 1:50 a.m. in the area of Veterans Memorial Drive and U.S. Highway 93.

See person: A woman thinks someone is following her so she is going to stay at a motel and not go home. Information was given about local motels at 2:07 p.m. in the 1000 block of Arizona Street.

Suspicious: A caller reports sees a man with binoculars and believes he may be watching children. The subject was contacted and warned on possible issues at 3:38 p.m. in the 800 block of Nevada Way.

Thought for the day: A person looking disoriented on the highway in the middle of the night could be in real danger. If you see something, say something.

Call of the week: A caller requests a welfare check on a neighbor because the neighbor hasn’t taken the trash can inside and that never happens. The subject states recyclables won’t be picked up until tomorrow. The neighbor is fine at 7:17 p.m. March 10.

Have a great week.

Tina Ransom is a dispatcher with Boulder City Police Department. She is coordinator of the Boulder City Citizen’s Academy.