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Posted on Tue, Nov. 10, 2009

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Wichita home burglaries up sharply

BY STAN FINGER

The Wichita Eagle

Home burglaries in Wichita have jumped sharply this year compared with 2008, with burglars targeting big-screen televisions and other electronics.

Police on Monday urged residents to exercise more caution in protecting their belongings.

Residential burglaries are up more than 7 percent through the end of October, compared with the same period last year, police said, and November is off to a troubling start.

Police said 21 home burglaries were reported over the past weekend.

"I about fell over when I saw how many residential burglaries we had," said Lt. Barry VonFange, head of the property crimes division.

"I know it was partly because of the warm weather... you just kind of let your guard down when the weather is warmer," he said.

The increase may be the result of the struggling economy, police said — or it may be simply because too many folks are turning themselves into easy targets by leaving garage doors up or doors unlocked.

Burglars aren't focusing on specific neighborhoods, VonFange said, but they have honed in on four preferred items: large flat-screen televisions, laptop computers, jewelry and electronic gaming systems.

"Those four things are fueling the rise in residential burglaries," VonFange said.

Officers who spot an open garage door are hanging "If I Were a Burglar" placards on door knobs. The placards list what burglars typically look for, crime prevention tips and contact information.

The initial printing of 5,000 placards has nearly been exhausted in less than a year.

"We're going to have to get a second printing," police spokesman Gordon Bassham said.

Residents can protect themselves and their neighborhoods by keeping an eye out for people and vehicles that don't belong there, police said.

VonFange said he's lost count of the number of times he's heard a witness say they saw a stranger or strange car in front of a neighbor's house.

"Then they'll say, 'I didn't think anything about it,' but they should think about it," he said.

They should know their neighborhood well enough to recognize the presence of someone or something that doesn't belong — and then call police, or at least the neighbor, in case a friend or relative is visiting.

Police nearly caught two burglars on Monday after an alert neighbor saw something he thought was unusual and called 911, VonFange said.

Although the suspects escaped, police have information about their vehicle and VonFange is confident arrests will be made soon.

"We have limited resources in the police department, but when citizens help us it makes such a big difference," he said. "They should not be afraid to bother us."

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