The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office has issued a release reminding citizens about ways to help avoid becoming a victim of vehicle or residential burglaries.

Many victims report leaving their doors unlocked.  This is especially prevalent in vehicle burglaries where wallets, purses, mp3 players, cell phones or other items are left in a car.  Whether in a parking lot or in a driveway, anything left in plain view could be of interest to a thief and that car could be their next target. The sheriff's office suggests placing items in the trunk or under the seat, out of sight through the window.

Likewise, residential burglaries occur often through an open window, unlocked door or dog door and could be avoided by simply locking up.  The harder it is to get into a home, the more likely a thief will avoid that home.  Detectives also recommend residents copy down serial numbers and/or photograph or videotape valuables such as electronics or jewelry items to help with recovery should they become a victim.  That documentation should be kept in a safe place such as a fireproof safe or bank deposit box to ensure it is available if needed.

The Sheriff’s Office also suggests that residents report any suspicious vehicles or persons in their neighborhoods.  Call 334-COPS for non-emergency incidents and 911 in case of an emergency.

On March 21, 2009 at approximately 2:36 a.m., deputies from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Responded to the Hacienda restaurant in Incline Village on a report of a window being broken. Deputies found a window to be broken and a suspect inside the facility. After the suspect refused to follow instructions to come out of the facility a canine unit was used to locate and apprehend the suspect. At the time the suspect was located an altercation took place between the suspect and the canine unit.

The suspect was treated for minor injuries received during the altercation then booked into the Washoe County Detention Facility.

Slater Yohey of Reno was booked into the Washoe County Detention Facility charged with Burglary, Injury to property, Obstructing and Resisting, and, Mistreating a Police Animal.  Bail is set at $7,935.00.

Crime takes a dip in Tahoe when winter arrives, Washoe County Sheriff’s Sgt. Art Glass told the Incline Village/Crystal Bay Citizen Advisory Board Wednesday evening.

“Weather is keeping things down right now, in the summer it’ll go back up,” Glass said.

Recently, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office has seen incidents in Incline Village relating to groceries stolen from a car at Raley’s, a broken-down snowmobile stolen from Sheep Flats and a vehicle burglary.

The economy is contributing to “opportunity crimes,” Glass said, as he gave a warning for people to lock their cars.

As Capt. Steven Kelly moves to a new position overseeing the Detention Facility, Capt. Wayne Yarborough will be heading the south command, Glass said. The reorganization is going smoothly, with overlapping shift changes that result in six officers in Incline Village at some times.

While snowstorms lessen crime, the weather increases activity for the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, according to Battalion Chief Mike Schwartz.

“Our call volume goes up when the snow starts to fall,” Schwartz told the CAB.

In the last 30 days, Schwartz said, the NLTFPD has responded to six structure fires, 78 emergency medical services calls, 12 motor vehicle accidents, four hazardous condition calls, seven public assists, and 10 good intent calls.

Fire district personnel have also been busy digging out fire hydrants around town. The district is preparing for the International Association of Fire Chiefs convention in Reno, in which 50 fire chiefs from around the country are going to take a tour March 26 of the defensible space created in the Third Creek drainage area.

 

Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced today that Brian Hunt of Carson City, entered a guilty plea to one count each of burglary, a Category B Felony and theft, a Category C Felony, in connection with his former employment as a computer technician with the Nevada Department of Information Technology.   The felony counts carry a possible sentence of up to 15 years. 

“This was a top-level person who took advantage of his position to harass his ex-wife,” said Attorney General Masto.   “Employee misconduct will be prosecuted.”

Hunt’s guilty plea follows an extensive investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Justice.  The investigation revealed that Hunt entered the Richard Bryan Building multiple times between July 31, 2008 and September 10, 2008.  His intent was to access computer information and files on his ex-wife, Susan Hunt’s, computer.  He also accessed computer files or information located within the building to commit larceny of telephone records or logs of Susan Hunt, telephone records or logs located in the building and to illegally install spy software and computer contaminant on a computer in the State of Nevada computer system.  Hunt’s entrance into the Richard Bryan Building after hours was recorded on camera. 

In addition, Hunt entered the home of his ex-wife, Susan Hunt, to commit larceny of computer information and files and to install spy software on that computer. 

Hunt also purchased five Dell Computers using State funds without authorization, gave four to family members and sold the fifth computer on E-bay to an unsuspecting buyer.