Trio of police impersonators remain at large

Karen Zekan

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 1998 | 12:05 p.m.

A trio of thugs masquerading as cops remained at large today, accused by a southeast Las Vegas couple of raiding their home, raping the woman and speeding off in their car.

The victims told police they'd left open the front door of their home near Eastern and St. Louis avenues when, about 1:30 a.m. Monday, two men and a woman stormed in, guns drawn, flashing what looked like gold police badges.

The intruders bound the man and woman and ransacked the home. At some point in the crime, Lt. Rick Alba, Metro Police spokesman, said the woman was raped by one of the gunmen.

It was unclear Tuesday what items the robbers made off with. Authorities withheld a description of the missing vehicle out of concern for the rape victim's identity.

One of the male suspects is believed to be either Hispanic or black, about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds; the other was described as a white Cuban male about 5-feet-5 and 165 pounds. The victims described the woman as Hispanic or Asian, 5-feet-7, 170 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Metro's sexual assault detail is handling the ongoing investigation into a crime that has provoked wonder over whether a locked door could have served as adequate prevention.

"Residents should be familiar with their neighborhoods and the families surrounding their homes," Alba said. "If you want to leave your door open and can't attend it, we recommend installing a security door with a lock. We recommend security doors not just for people in the neighborhood where this incident happened, but for anyone, anywhere."

Security doors -- typically the heavy metal wire-mesh doors permeated by metal siding, or the wrought-iron types -- should have heavy-duty locks for greatest protection.

-- Karen Zekan