HENDERSON (KTNV) — Recent FBI crime data ranks Henderson as one of the safest cities to live in America but low crime doesn't mean no crime.
Henderson's top 10 list has some familiar places, but there was also a new crime hub in the southeast suburb. Henderson Hospital is number 10 on the list after generating 358 calls to police in 2018.
While large properties with lots of traffic generally makes for more calls, police say car break-ins are the biggest issue at the hospital because thieves know it's easy prey.
"Nurses usually work 10- to 12-hour shifts," says Lt. Kirk Moore with Henderson Police Department. "They work long hours so once they park their car, they're not going to see that car for 10 to 12 hours. So if I'm a predator and I want to steal from a car, that's a great opportunity because by the time victim discovers the loss, the suspect is long, long gone."
Once the problem was identified, Lt. Moore says Henderson Police and the hospital teamed up to stop it.
"And we caught several people that were running rings in those auto burglaries," Lt. Moore explains. "So that significantly dropped those calls for service at those locations. And that's ongoing."
Number five on the list takes us to a place where crime calls hit close to home. The Villas at Green Valley had 469 calls.
Click each location for ranking and number of service calls
"When you look at apartments and high-call volume, it's usually a small group of people driving those numbers," says Lt. Moore.
Many of the calls for disturbances are domestic violence or just some yelling and arguing.
"When you have an apartment with three or four adults in that apartment, sometimes tensions can run high," says Lt. Moore.
Which brings us to a place locals may go to blow off steam, get a bite to eat and find some entertainment. Sunset Station is in 4th place with 473 calls.
Another new addition to the Top 10 is Alberstons on Lake Mead and Boulder Highway with 477 calls. That's more than twice as many as last year. Why the increase?
Lt. Moore says while he can't speak to the policy at every store. "...there's been a trend as of late that the loss prevention people are encouraged to not engage suspect people who are stealing merchandise," he says. "There's an inherent liability in confronting people."
He believes that approach could lead to increased shoplifting.
"They don't engage them. They kind of let them go. When that word gets around to the community then you become an even bigger target," Lt. Moore explains. "Because they know they're going to be met with little to no resistance. Of course we get the calls after the fact and so then in essence we become... we're just documenting what occurred."
Albertsons provided the following statement:
"We have clearly defined procedures in place dictating when our management teams call for police assistance, and it is always in the interest of public safety followed by loss prevention. Our stores take situations involving theft and public disturbance seriously because we want to create a safe environment for our customers to shop."
The second busiest location for Henderson police is one of those familiar places that's always in the top 10. Walmart on Marks Street racked up 515 calls.
And the number one location? The other Walmart on Lake Mead had 662 police calls. That's 134 more than the year before -- most of the calls for shoplifting and suspicious people.
Walmart provided the following statement:
“No retailer is immune to the challenge of crime. We take this issue seriously and recognize it’s importance at the highest levels of the company. We are continuously investing in people and technology to combat crime. We’ll continue to work with law enforcement as part of our ongoing commitment to meet our customers’ and associates’ expectations of a safe and enjoyable shopping experience.”
HENDERSON TOP 10 CRIME HOT SPOTS
1. Walmart, Lake Mead Parkway and Boulder Highway
2. Walmart, Marks Street and Sunset Road
3. Albertsons, Lake Mead Parkway and Boulder Highway
4. Sunset Station, Sunset Road and Stephanie Street
5. Villas at Green Valley, Green Valley parkway and La Mesa Drive
6. Highland Village Apartments, Taylor Street and Lake Mead Parkway
7. Galleria at Sunset mall, Galleria Drive and Stephanie Street
8. Montego Bay Apartments, Whitney Ranch Drive and Patrick Lane
9. Green Valley Ranch Casino, Paseo Verde parkway and Village Park Drive
10. Henderson Hospital, Galleria Drive and Gibson Road
