This east Wichita neighborhood is a hot spot for vehicle-related thefts, police warn
Residents in an east Wichita neighborhood are being asked to lock up their vehicles and hide their valuables.
Wichita police’s Patrol East Bureau have marked the 500 block of S. Rock Road as a hot spot for stolen vehicles, theft from vehicles and vandalism, the bureau said in a recent social media post.
The neighborhood is near the intersection of Kellogg and Rock Road. Thefts occur at random times, but “5 p.m. to midnight especially on Sundays are the riskiest hours,” police said.
The vehicles most targeted for break-ins are Dodge Ram, Chevy Silverado and Ford F-series trucks, WPD spokesperson Andrew Ford said in an email.
Between Sept. 25 last year and March 5, three vehicles and one electric bike were stolen in the area. During that time, there were 13 reports of damage and larceny to vehicles, police said.
“The total monetary loss reported in these cases amounts to $47,308, with $37,376 of that total attributed to stolen construction equipment,” according to Ford.
Other stolen items included firearms, electronics and cash.
Paul Bradley is a neighborhood resident and president of the Eastridge Neighborhood Association. He says the theft has been an ongoing issue.
Bradley, who’s lived in the neighborhood since 1993, thinks some of the shuttered businesses and hotels that line east Kellogg contribute to the problem.
“So I’ve noticed that from reports from the CPO [community policing officers], is that that is kind of an area of concern,” Bradley said in a phone call.
Bradley encourages residents at neighborhood meetings to take or keep their valuables out of sight.
No arrests have been made in connection with these thefts. Police have increased officer patrols and are continuously monitoring the area.
Anyone who sees suspicious activity in the area is encouraged to call the See Something Say Something hotline at 316-519-2282 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.
This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 10:50 AM.