More security sought for police armories

Tuesday, April 1, 2003 | 9:43 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- State and local law enforcement agencies would have to boost security to guard against the theft of firearms under a bill heard by the Senate Committee on Government Affairs Monday.

Senate Bill 290 is aimed at preventing a re-occurrence of what happened at the armory of the state Parole and Probation Division in Las Vegas the weekend of Nov. 29, 2002, when burglars stole 22 handguns, up to 5,000 rounds of ammunition and cans of pepper spray.

"We want to take a hard look at how weapons are stored," said Sen. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas.

The bill would require that every place where five or more weapons are stored be equipped with an alarm system that is monitored from a remote location. There was no alarm system at the Las Vegas office of the division.

Carlton agreed to an amendment from law enforcement agencies that no alarm system would be required where there is 24-hour supervision.

Carlton also agreed to exempt National Guard facilities, where weapons are kept in a vault and there is an identification system required to access the area.

Police arrested two men Dec. 11 in the armory theft and said all the guns and ammunition had been recovered.

Jonathan Avendaro, 22, and Joshua Moyers, 20, were booked on grand larceny of firearms and possession of stolen property.

A third man, Xay Khang, was arrested Dec. 19. Police said he was found in possession of one of the stolen weapons.