Police concerned with number of burglaries in Lawrence
LAWRENCE - The last three months have kept local law enforcement on their feet. Several dozen aggravated burglaries are taking place around town, and to the victims’ dismay, no suspects are behind bars just yet.
The unusual trend of events caught our local officers’ eyes, prompting an ongoing investigation that includes evening and midnight patrols, along with detectives and crime analysts. “We want to make sure that the officers are collecting evidence if it’s left behind,” says Sgt. Trent McKinley with the Lawrence Police Department. “Of course we follow up with the detectives, crime analysts will get involved, and we’ll start to attempt to identify patterns.”
Police are calling them opportunity crimes. The majority of the victims have left their doors unlocked, so the burglars can go right in. These crimes aren't tied to one specific area. It’s happening all over town and when it does, the victims are usually at home in their beds.
When the victim awakes, police say the suspects are running away on foot, taking small electronic items, purses, and wallets on their way out. Police believe the same group of suspects is responsible for these crimes. They say the way they enter the home, what they take, and the bedroom entrance is similar in all of the cases.