Burglary spree could spur security changes with Old Town businesses

A string of recent business burglaries in Old Town has prompted the president of the Old Town Association to call for additional lighting and security cameras in the downtown entertainment district.

Eight burglaries over a two-week period in mid- to late August has been a “punch to the gut” of business owners in Old Town, Jason Van Sickle said.

“That’s a lot,” police Capt. Jose Salcido acknowledged.

The crimes appear to be the work of one person who gains quick entry to the businesses after closing time and steals electronics and other property near the front of the store, Van Sickle said.

“Within seconds, he’s in and out,” Salcido said of the suspect. “He covers his head with whatever he can find.”

The crime spree has been “just clearly demoralizing” to the business owners, Van Sickle said.

Losing their computers can mean having to replace customer and financial records that are “very difficult and time-consuming to replace,” he said.

The incidents have spurred Van Sickle to begin exploring public-private partnerships to add more security cameras to Old Town. Security cameras monitored by Wichita police in Old Town are already in place atop certain buildings.

But Van Sickle said he would like more cameras added and placed low enough outdoors so patrons can see them but not reach them without using a ladder. The cameras could deter crime, he said, and provide potential evidence in the event a crime occurs.

He wants the additional lighting to target alleys and other poorly lit areas so patrons feel safer while spending time in the entertainment district.

“I’m working with a local electrician to add more lights on buildings in Old Town,” he said.

He has no timetable for the additional security cameras, Van Sickle said, because conversations are just beginning.

Police hope to nab the person or persons responsible for the recent spree soon, however. Investigators have physical evidence and also store video, Salcido said, but have not positively identified a suspect shown by security images.

Video evidence makes it “pretty apparent” the suspect is probably homeless, he said. Investigators talked to transients who frequent Naftzger Park, but were not told who was responsible for the burglaries.

Still, after that chat at Naftzger Park, “everything stopped,” Salcido said.

There haven’t been additional burglaries in the same area. Investigators are now waiting to see whether DNA evidence processed by the Regional Forensic Science Center offers them an identity.

“It takes time,” Salcido said, because other cases are a higher priority.

This story was originally published September 22, 2014 at 9:14 AM with the headline "Burglary spree could spur security changes with Old Town businesses."