‘Think like thief’ to prevent crime

It's the time of year for you to start to "think like a thief." While it's nearly impossible to protect the perimeter of your home at all times there are a few things you can do to protect your delivery items, according to a few of the local delivery services. Have items delivered to your office, to a neighbor, or a relative you know will be available. You can make notations on the order "special instructions" or leave a note on the front door to deliver to the alternate address.

Some delivery services allow for consumers to sign up for a text alert with a delivery time window or a signature required instruction. Personally, I have a secure box installed outside the door that can be locked after items have been put inside.

Also, it's time to be aware of your surroundings when you are out shopping for gifts. Do not go out with large amounts of cash and expose it each time you make a purchase. After you make the purchase and are walking out to your car, pay attention to who is paying attention to you.

There are individuals who spend their entire day "hanging around" shopping areas waiting for folks to put their large amount of packages into their vehicles and return to the store or mall for more shopping. A quick pop with the glass-breaking tool and ta-daaa! — their Christmas shopping is done for them. And, of course, anything they don't like can easily be peddled on the Internet.

Stop living in la-la-land and be proactive. Make specific plans and habits to keep yourself and your property safe. Don't give any information over the phone, Internet or at your front door.

Think ahead and act as if you were on a list as an "easy mark" for theft. Make it a safe year and remember, if you didn't initiate the contact, you truly can't be sure of who you are dealing with.

Nov. 19. Suspicious: A caller states there are several individuals removing items from a vacant house and it ends up being the owner of the property removing the items belonging to the old tenant at 3:14 p.m. in the 1300 block of Shenandoah Street.

Solicitors: Multiple people in the neighborhood are selling items door to door and most of them have "questionable" character at 6:32 p.m. in the 800 block of Shirley Lane.

Thought for the day: All solicitors are required to have a Boulder City business license with them or they are not to be soliciting. Give us a call if they don't.

Nov. 20. Drugs: The driver of this vehicle is in possession of drugs and driving like he's already taken them at 2:10 a.m. in the area of Wyoming Street and California Avenue.

Trespass: Officers receive a report about a naked male yelling and running around stating he just got out of jail at 2:46 p.m. in the 1000 Nevada Way.

Thought for the day: It would probably be more believable if you ran around naked and don't talk about jail.

Nov. 21. Suspicious: Officers receive a report about a man dressed only in his underwear pounding on the front door of a residence and then laying in the yard at 1:51 a.m. in the 700 block of Marita Drive.

Suspicious: The caller stated a vacant house has had the utilities on the past few days and there could be squatters living in it at 5:14 p.m. in the 600 block of Avenue H.

Thought for the day: It must be getting colder. The subjects are going from naked one day to only underwear the next. They might be fully clothed by the end of the week.

Nov. 22. Family disturbance: One subject involved in the disagreement decides to pull out the "big" guns and reports to the officer that the other party steals library books at 1:51 a.m. in the 1700 block of Fleetwood Street.

Reckless driver: A caller states the subject is going over 90 mph and weaving in and out of traffic. The driver is soon on the way to court to post a cash bail as it is a visitor from outside of the U.S. at 9:21 a.m. in the area of St. Jude's Road at U.S. Highway 93.

Thought for the day: You know you've reached a new low when you are a compulsive library book thief.

Nov. 23. Private property accident: Officers are kept busy for quite a few hours after a trash truck hits the canopy over the gas pumps and it nearly comes crashing down at 9:42 a.m. in the 100 block of Ville Drive.

Suspended registration: Officers working Joining Forces in another jurisdiction cite the owner and have the vehicle towed away at 12:16 p.m. in the area of Nellis Boulevard and Boulder Highway. Thought for the day: Many times per year all surrounding police departments "join forces" to do enforcement activities in each other's jurisdictions. So don't be surprised when you find us in some unexpected places.

Nov. 24. Suspended driver's licence: An officer on a traffic stop finds the driver still has a suspended driver's license and warrants from another jurisdiction indicating that he does not like paying his tickets and keeps driving. So today his vehicle is towed at 11:51 a.m. in the area of Avenue G and Fifth Street.

Assist other department: Officers stop to investigate two men with a sledgehammer doing a number on the sidewalk at 12:49 p.m. in the 1000 block of Wyoming Street.

Thought for the day: If you're going to destroy a part of city infrastructure, you will need to have permits and a plan.

Nov. 25. Private property accident: A second subject gets an oversized vehicle stuck under the canopy this week at 1:35 p.m. in the 100 block of Ville Drive.

Assist: A concerned party wants to report the possible exploitation of an elderly person; however, the investigation reveals none of these issues have happened at 1:38 p.m. in the 1500 block of Cindy Lane.

Thought for the day: Sometimes third-party stories passed along about the families of senior citizens are a bit embellished; however, we still want to investigate just to be safe.

Call(s) of the week: Suspicious: The caller believes that the Suburban with dealer plates hooking up to a trailer just doesn't look right and he is correct. We found what we believe to be a major player in the trailer theft arena. The vehicle had items inside that gave the indication this was not their first rodeo. Good job watching out for your neighbors on Nov. 29 at 5:59 a.m.

Have a great week.

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