Homeowners warned of team of thieves

Friday, Aug. 27, 2004 | 9:46 a.m.

Metro Police are warning Las Vegas residents that a team of thieves may be offering to work on their houses but steal cash and jewelry while surveying their homes.

An elderly woman was approached by two men and a boy while she stood in her front yard on Monday, police said.

They asked if her husband was home and then walked into her house. Once inside the home, they asked the husband if they could work on the sprinkler system.

The man went to his garage for a moment and one suspect followed him, police said. The second suspect and the boy were looking over the property.

When the visitors left, the homeowners discovered cash, jewelry and a long rifle missing.

The first suspect is described as a man 5-feet-5, weighing about 150 pounds, about 20 to 25 years of age with black hair and brown eyes. The second man weighs 275 pounds, stands 6 feet tall and has black hair and brown eyes.

They could be Hispanic, Eastern European or Gypsies, police said.

The suspects were last seen leaving the area in a small red truck.

A similar incident in late June could be related to the latest theft, police said. Two men knocked on an elderly homeowner's door and asked if they could fix up his home. One suspect remained inside the house while the other walked the man outside. Several thousand dollars were stolen from the house.

The first suspect matches the description in the latest theft. The second suspect was described as a man in his 40s, 5-feet-11, 250 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

The men were wearing blue uniforms with "Knickerbocker Roofing" written on them.

Anyone with information is urged to notify Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 or Metro Police Property Crimes Section at (702) 229-3573.