Suspects sought in northwest valley home invasions

By Tiffany Gibson

Thursday, April 8, 2010 | 6:04 p.m.

Metro Police are searching for multiple people suspected of being involved in many of the 15 home invasions that have occurred in the northwest Las Vegas Valley this year.

Lt. Clint Nichols said today the latest home invasion occurred about 12:30 a.m. Thursday, when multiple suspects entered a home near Cheyenne Avenue and Durango Drive with two handguns. Police said the suspects entered through an unlocked sliding door and took a flat-screen TV.

Police released sketches March 19 of two of the men wanted in connection with many of the residential robberies.

One suspect is described as a 20-year-old mixed-race man who is 5-feet-7-inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. The second man was described as black, 6-foot tall and weighing 180 pounds with bad acne on his face. Both are considered armed and dangerous, police said.

Nichols said all of the home invasions appear to be random. He said the suspects in each case were armed. One homeowner has been shot.

The shooting occurred March 31 when a man tried to escape after being held at gunpoint in his home by two men, authorities said. Police said the two men entered through the front door, which was unlocked, and demanded money from the homeowner.

Others have been tied up during the home invasions, Nichols said.

Police said all of the suspects entered the homes through unlocked doors or windows. Police encouraged residents to keep entryways locked at all times.

“I know it’s spring time and you don’t see the harm in opening windows and letting fresh air in, (but) now there’s harm,” Nichols said.

Nichols also encouraged residents to pay attention to unknown vehicles parked in front of houses. He said residents should call police as a precaution.