Leave crime scenes untouched

We will explore the best things to do — and not to do — if you find yourself the victim of some basic types of crime.

You wake up early on a regular workday, gather your things, head out to your vehicle to begin your commute to work. Bam! You notice the side window is broken out or your door shows pry marks and there is glass and personal items strewn all over the inside of your vehicle. What do you do? Run over, grab the door, rummage around to see what’s missing? Scoop the items to the side and drive to work, work all day, then drive by the station to make a report? Believe it or not, that happens in many cases.

If you want the best chance of finding the person responsible for the break-in, do not touch the car, the contents, or drive anywhere. First, call your work and explain you will be a little late. Then call the nonemergency line (702-293-9224 ext. 1) and let us know your name, address, phone number, license plate number and any other information you may have.

The less you do in and around the scene of the crime, the more information we can gather about the criminal. We will dispatch an officer to make the initial report and gather whatever evidence may be available on the scene. The officer will then advise you on calling your insurance and getting the repair and/or replacement process in motion as soon as possible.

The report will then be written and any information gathered will be included for submission to the detective bureau for investigation or closed out for insurance purposes.

Each week we will explore other possible situations and some possible courses of action. Let’s check the neighborhood!

March 17. Suspicious: The caller states excessive traffic in and out of a vacant house at 2:48 p.m. in the 1300 block of Shenandoah Street.

Civil: One subject leaves the house after a dispute but is now convinced the other party is probably “trashing” the place at 3:13 p.m. in the 500 block of Tara Court.

Thought for the day: Squatting in vacant properties is a huge problem, so thank you for keeping an eye open.

March 18. Robbery: The clerk states he has been robbed again at 4:20 a.m. in the 900 block of Utah Street.

Parking: The sports car decides the color of the curb and the color of the car go well together despite half the vehicle jutting out into the intersection at 7:49 a.m. in the area of Monterey Drive. and Del Rio Street.

Thought for the day: The ticket and the tow fee should convince anyone that the color of the day is not red.

March 19. Traffic: The officer ends up giving a courtesy transport to one individual after the vehicle stop reveals the seat belt to occupant ratio is a little short at 2:03 a.m. in the 1100 block of Nevada Highway.

Parking: The fine for parking facing the wrong way is much more costly than the inconvenience involved in walking across the street at 7:26 a.m.

Thought for the day: Our officers often go the extra mile to assist in finding solutions to interesting conundrums.

March 20. Foot patrol: Officers discover that squatters have set up residence in some backyard sheds at 10:47 a.m. in the area of New Mexico and Utah streets.

Suspicious: The residentially challenged male pacing back and forth in the area advises he is waiting for the homemade meal to get done and is very anxious at 10:39 p.m. in the 1100 block of Fifth Street.

Thought for the day: Mental illness and addiction account for the largest numbers of homeless in our country. Please keep all buildings locked and check them frequently.

March 21. Suspicious: The caller reports several subjects on the roof of an establishment and yet another unauthorized access is located to a vacant apartment at 4:26 a.m. in the 500 block of Nevada Way.

Suspended driver’s license: The suspended driver just isn’t having a great day when Metropolitan Police Department states it wants him on warrants at 1:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of Nevada Way.

Thought for the day: How awful to have your elderly mother subjected to your arrest and vehicle impound. However, she states she appreciates the courtesy ride home!

March 22. See person: The caller trades a bicycle for repair work, but the worker absconds with the bike and all the tools at 9:27 a.m. in the 1000 block of Arizona Street.

Fire: Smoking piles of leaves in the gutter prompt passers-by to jump into action with water bottles and hoses at 4:22 p.m. in the 1200 block of Avenue G.

Thought for the day: We locate the worker. He returns on the bicycle and the tools appear to just be misplaced.

March 23. Road hazard: A man on a bike is stopped and reminded that he must obey the rules of the road the same as other drivers at 5:36 p.m. in the area of Wyoming Street and Avenue G.

Threats: Two individuals have a road-rage incident but decline to press charges against each other at 7:41 p.m. in the area of 1625 Nevada Highway.

Thought for the day: Bicycles and vehicles must obey the same traffic rules.

Call of the Week: Expose: The caller states the naked man standing alongside an SUV appears to be oblivious to the heavy traffic nearby. Thankfully his roommate will respond with a robe and an extra driver for the confused subject at 7:45 a.m. in the area of U.S. Highway 95 and Impact Sand Road on March 20.

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