Wichita sees jump in burglary numbers

BY STAN FINGER
The Wichita Eagle

WICHITA — Burglaries are up more than 7 percent over 2008, and police are urging residents to exercise more caution with their belongings — particularly with the holiday shopping season looming.

Many victims are residents who left their garage doors open and had belongings taken, police said.

"They'll take anything that's not tied down," police spokesman Gordon Bassham said.

Bicycles, lawn mowers, personal items from inside cars and other lawn equipment have been frequent targets, police said.

For nearly a year now, police have been putting placards on door knobs where garages have been left open, Bassham said. They're nearly out of the first printing of 5,000 cards.

Reach Stan Finger at 316-268-6437 or sfinger@wichitaeagle.com.