LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the City of Las Vegas are working together to make the Arts District safer, but change doesn’t happen overnight.
FOX5 is staying on top of crime in the Arts District, from break-ins to copper wire theft.
An Arts District Safety Coalition was formed in response in April.
During their quarterly meeting on Tuesday, LVMPD Downtown Area Command Captain, Adam Seely, said they’ve seen copper wire theft “drop off” in the area.
Seely says since the summer, they’ve made ten arrests in connection to copper wire thefts downtown.
He credits the progress to their A/C Theft Response Plan, which included covert officers and video surveillance.
He says the ordinance passed by the City of Las Vegas, that prevents people from selling scrap metal without proper documentation, and the city’s P.O.P Team has aided in their progress, too.
Marissa Pretkus owns Horse Trailer Hideout, one of the businesses that lost thousands in damages from copper wire theft back in August.
She said over the last couple of months she’s noticed more police presence and faster response times.
“I honestly think it was long overdue. I think they were having so many continual problems over time and they’ve had millions of dollars of damages, that I think is just something they’ve been working on for a long time and the timing was just in their face and present,” Pretkus said.
Pretkus acknowledged the area is not perfect.
Surveillance video from early Monday morning shows a masked group of three break into the Atomic Style Lounge on Main Street.
The Owner, Jenn Hunter, says the thieves stole nearly $8,000 in products, including handbags, wallets, and t-shirts.
FOX5 has requested the report from Metro Police, but they confirmed they took a report for “burglary of a business.”
“A lot of the businesses are still having issues with break-ins, and I think that would just come with more aggressive security at night time,” Pretkus says.
Seely says in 2025 Metro will be adding two members to the city’s P.O.P Team, as well as deploying officers on bikes downtown on the graveyard shift.
As for the 10 arrested in connection to copper wire theft, Seely said their cases are ongoing, but that they are working with the Clark County DA to ensure the suspects see the “appropriate” sentences.
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