Two women victims of home invasion robberies on same day

Jen Lawson

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2003 | 9:55 a.m.

Two women who live in the area of Sahara Avenue and Nellis Boulevard were followed home Wednesday by young men who forced their way into their homes and stole televisions, jewelry and a car, police said.

Metro Police believe these two home invasion robberies were committed by the same group of young men.

"It looks like we might be working the same suspects," Metro Police Robbery Lt. Ted Snodgrass said. "They knock on the door, ask for someone, then push their way in."

The first home invasion Wednesday occurred about 12:30 p.m. at Wyoming Avenue and Nellis Boulevard. Snodgrass said the 81-year-old victim had just returned from the grocery store and was unpacking her food when someone knocked on her door and asked for a particular person. Police believe the suspects spotted the woman either in the grocery store or driving home and followed her.

Four men who appeared to be between 17 and 20 years old tied her up with a phone cord and spent 30 to 45 minutes ransacking her house.

One of the robbers had a gun and opened the chamber to show the victim it was loaded, Snodgrass said. The robbers stole three televisions, jewelry and the victim's white 1998 four-door Ford Taurus, police said.

Two hours later two men matching the descriptions of the suspects in the earlier robbery forced their way into a home in the area of Wyoming Avenue and Lamb Boulevard.

The victim had just gotten off a bus, Snodgrass said.

"We think they spotted her, followed her, watched her go in and knocked on the door," he said.

They forced the victim into a closet, grabbed some small valuables and left after a few minutes, Snodgrass said.

Neither victim was hurt.

Snodgrass said he's confident they will arrest the robbers.

"After this went down yesterday, we had 15 patrol officers looking for (the Ford Taurus)," he said. "We're dedicating a large amount of resources to finding these guys. We don't want this to escalate."

Two other home invasions occurred in the same general area within the past two weeks, but Snodgrass said they don't appear to be related. In those the robbers spoke Spanish to the victims.

Snodgrass said residents should be aware of people around them, and not open the door for anyone they don't know, even if it's during the day.