Police officer advises Sun City residents on how to deter burglars

Yes, those burglaries in Summerlin that you hear about from time to time are real. Yes, the burglars almost always strike during the daytime hours, when many folks are at work and others are out and about. Yes, they're looking for cash, jewelry, guns and small electronic items, such as iPads and iPhones. And yes, they usually fill their sacks and are gone in less than five minutes.

Does this all mean that a crime wave has befallen Summerlin?

Uh, uh! No way!

It means that Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sgt. Sean Toman, who supervises the Property Crimes Section at the Northwest Area Command, 9850 W. Cheyenne Ave., has his finger on the pulse of the burglary gangs. He knows just how these home intruders do their jobs and what it is they're seeking.

Most important, it can all be translated into a 38 percent drop in these property crimes in Summerlin over the last 10 years, Toman said.

"We're catching them, even though we're doing it with only six detectives in my section," he explained.

"I might add that we cover more than just Summerlin. Our area of responsibility includes a northwest sector that is vast in size. It stretches all the way to Mount Charleston," Toman said during and after an address to a standing-room-only audience of more than 500 homeowners at a recent meeting of the Sun City Summerlin Residents' Forum.

Only six detectives chasing burglars in an area that large? Is that sufficient, he was asked?

"We can always use more help," he replied.

The veteran police officer had been invited to apprise residents of how they can help themselves, particularly of how they can stay alert to what's happening in their own backyards.

"The best protection is to constantly be alert and to alert your neighbors, especially if you're going to be away," he said. "Security systems are good. Nine out of 10 burglars will pick homes without alarm systems, but some of these guys are pretty good at ripping them off the walls. Dogs are great deterrents. So are security patrols, like the one in Sun City. I might add that 100 percent of these crimes in 2011 were during daylight hours.

"Summerlin is a big target," he continued, "but we're handling the problem well, and I can assure you that the area is generally safe."

He refuted some popular notions. For example, "even residents of Queensridge are victims of burglaries, despite their gates, guards" and other defense mechanisms. He also emphasized, "There has been no increase in crime due to the opening of the (Las Vegas) Beltway interchange at Lake Mead Boulevard."

Anything that can be converted into immediate cash, most often to buy narcotics, "is the motivator for most burglaries," said Toman, who also has served as a narcotics detective.

He noted that the number of stolen vehicles containing firearms "is shocking in the northwest area." He also pointed to an often difficult conundrum.

"For example, the carpet cleaning man may be a nice person, as is the air-conditioning repair guy," he said. "You welcome them and others like them into your home. But maybe one of their cousins or a brother-in-law is a burglar."

Toman said it is his decision which burglary cases are assigned for investigation. Since it would be impossible for the police department to investigate every home invasion in the northwest with only six detectives, much of the resources is concentrated on breaking up organized burglary rings.

"Ten percent of these criminals are responsible for about 80 percent of the property crimes," he said.

Toman provided a list of the most popular items sought by burglars.

"They're looking for firearms, which they can easily trade for dope," he explained. "They look for jewelry ---- and you should keep photos of these valuable items because they often show up in pawn shops. They're also looking for small electronic items. In fact, 50 percent of the stuff that you find for sale on craigslist was stolen."

He explained that many burglarized items end up in other countries.

"There are markets for this stuff in China, Mexico and South America," Toman noted. "But my prime job as sergeant in charge of property crimes is to catch these guys before stolen items get that far."

Herb Jaffe was an op-ed columnist and investigative reporter for most of his 39 years at the Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J. His newest novel, "All For Nothing," is now available. Contact him at hjaffe@cox.net.