Vacant homes provide opportunity for criminals

It appears that we are not immune from those "big city" issues such as homelessness and squatting. Recent weeks have shown that we have quite a few nonhomeowners in our midst.

Some houses have fallen victim to foreclosure or structure problems and have been vacant, thereby providing a unique opportunity for people who are not afraid of ruining an already bad reputation. While homelessness is not a crime, it has sometimes proven to be a precursor to a rash of criminal behavior. Trespassing, soliciting, burglary and petty larceny are just a few of the associated behaviors we have found.

Water and electricity aren't available without a hefty deposit and monthly payments so it doesn't take long before even a musty environment becomes toxic. Help us keep our property values solid and let us know of any suspicious behavior, especially around homes that are currently vacant.

Nov. 26. Accident: Officers receive reports of a vehicle and planter meeting by accident and the planter won at 6:59 a.m. in the 1300 block of Arizona Street.

DUI: A caller reports a vehicle all over the roadway and the driver fails to pass field sobriety tests so it's off to the jail for the night at 11:33 p.m. in the 1600 block of Nevada Highway.

Thought for the day: Road warriors are everywhere armed with hands-free devices and who are willing to help us get impaired drivers off the road. Thank you.

Nov. 27. Suspicious: The caller thinks the vehicle's driver is acting suspicious; however, the driver just got a learner's permit and is practicing parking skills at 5:22 p.m. in the 1000 block of Nevada Way.

Domestic: The family dispute spills over into some unlawful behaviors at 7:31 p.m. in the 1500 block of Darlene Way.

Thought for the day: Think long and hard before engaging in behavior that can end up hurting someone or causing financial troubles.

Nov. 28. Noise: A nearby house has had a band blaring for several hours at 2:44 p.m. in the 1300 block of Mustang Road.

Noise: The callers state that there is a loud party going on and they would appreciate our assistance at 8:36 p.m. in the 1100 block of Avenue K.

Thought for the day: It must be the day for parties.

Nov. 29. Fraud: A person comes to the station to report that the mail was tampered with while the person was on vacation at 11:29 a.m. in the 1000 block of Arizona Street.

Suspicious: The caller sees a suspicious vehicle with a male driver hanging around the park and officers soon determine the male and his wife have had a disagreement and she is "cooling off" in the park at 4:14 p.m. in the area of Oasis Park.

Thought for the day: It's a good idea to have your mail held until you return from vacation to ensure you don't become a victim.

Nov. 30. Accident: Both the vehicle and the coyote were victims in this crash at 2:19 a.m. in the area of mile marker 10 on U.S. Highway 93.

Suspicious: The owner of the vehicle is fortunate this morning to find his unlocked vehicle ransacked and a foreign "key" broken off in the ignition instead of it totally gone at 7:08 a.m. in the 600 block of Otono Drive.

Thought for the day: Lock your doors, people.

Dec. 1. Auto theft: This owner discovers to not have been as lucky as some people this week at 11:04 a.m. in the 500 Tara Court.

Vagrant: Squatters have been ousted, once again, from a vacant house and a stolen bicycle is recovered at 4:21 p.m. in the 600 block of Avenue H.

Thought for the day: Keep a vigilant watch on any vacant houses in your neighborhood and let us know of suspicious activity.

Dec. 2. Hit and run: The hostile man added insult to injury when he hit the caller's vehicle and then flashed a single finger at the caller at 10:31 a.m. in the 700 block of Avenue G.

Drunk: The drunk friend isn't happy when no one will answer the door so he begins screaming and throwing beer cans at the house at 11:17 p.m. in the 600 block of Avenue M.

Thought for the day: OK, either hit the car or flip me off, but not both.

Call(s) of the week: Suspicious: The caller states he believes he may have located an explosive device on the dry lake bed. He neglects to include the information that he has run over it, dissected it, and threw it as far as he could. Good thing it ends up being just a battery to a remote controlled vehicle. Please don't do this if you think you have found an explosive device. On Nov. 29 at 3:51 p.m. on the dry lake bed.

Have a great week.

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