Surveillance video posted on social media helps solve home burglary

By Jackie Valley

Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013 | 7:10 p.m.

Metro Police credit social media with helping solve a recent home burglary that became the talk of the town when the victims posted surveillance footage of the suspect online.

Officers arrested Austin Jones, 23, Saturday and booked him into the Clark County Detention Center on a burglary count and parole violation.

Police responded about 3:40 p.m. Thursday to the 2000 block of Tanner Valley Circle to investigate a burglary in which someone forcibly entered a home and stole multiple items. The home is in a residential neighborhood near Wigwam and Eastern avenues.

The victims completed a crime report with Metro, but they didn’t stop there: Their home had a surveillance system, which captured portions of the crime, so they posted the video to social media sites, police said.

The buzz on social media generated numerous calls to Metro with tips about the suspect’s identity, police said.

Then a local radio talk show discussed the crime on air, leading to even more tips, police said.

Police said the tips “significantly aided” the detectives in identifying Jones as the suspect, according to a news release from the department.

Detectives contacted Jones by telephone Saturday, at which point he allegedly expressed his interest in surrendering, police said. He was arrested later that day by officers from Metro, Henderson Police, and Nevada State Parole and Probation.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Metro’s property crimes section at the South Central Area Command at 702-828-3267. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or visit www.crimestoppersofnv.com.