28 • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2003
CRIME
Lawrence car break-ins increasing
Photo illustration by Zach Straus/Kansan
The frequency of car break-ins has increased slightly over the past three years. After a small dip in 2001,the number of automobile break-ins jumped to a reported 1000 in 2002.
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By Kevin Wiggs
kwiggs@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
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When Brian Eiswirth left his house on a Monday morning last year, his main concern was sitting through yet another hour-long lecture class. But he spotted something unusual when he glanced at his car. His trunk was open. The Chesterfield, Mo., junior went to investigate and discovered he was a victim of a car breakin.
CAUSES
Sgt. Mike Pattrick said there was more than one theory about the increase of reported break-ins. The main reason was an increase in Lawrence population, he said.
According to the Lawrence Police Department this has been an increasing trend. In the last three years the number of reported thefts from vehicles has gone from 871 in 2000 to 1,000 last year.
Lawrence's population was 77,488 in 1998 and rose to 80,098 in 2000. Numbers for 2001 and 2002 are not yet available.
Although the population increased, the Lawrence Police staff has not gained as many new members to deal the growth.
In 1999 there were 123 police officers. The police force has grown by 2 officers despite a more than $3 million increase in the department's budget.
The department recently added a new type of radio to police cars and bought new laptop computers.
Patrick said the budget increased because of an increase in pay for police officers and an increase in technology.
While break-ins are increasing, other crimes are still a higher priority. Pattrick said the department did not educate the public and had not planned to.
Officers are more concerned with "person" crimes, such as assault or rape, rather than crimes done to material belongings.
Total crimes in Lawrence have gone down over the past three years, according to the department's Web site. Lawrence had 2,548 reported crimes through March. At that rate there will be less than 11,000 crimes in 2003, the lowest number in three years.
"We're interested in all crimes," he said. But this is a 'non-person' crime and most of our effort and resources are spent on person' crimes."
Pattrick said the police occasionally
implemented a burglary task force, but only when a string of crimes might be related.
PREVENTION
Ralph Oliver, University of Kansas Public Safety Office spokesperson, said thieves looked for stereo systems and CD collections.
Most car burglaries are unrelated and done at night under the cover of darkness, he said.
He said break-ins were highest at the beginning of semesters when the KU student population increases, and before Christmas, when cars are packed with goodies and thieves can be desperate for money.
As car break-in numbers climb, so do sales of car alarm systems.
Pattrick said break-ins did not occur in one area of town. Rather, thieves look for areas that are dimly lit with multiple cars, where spotting a break-in is more difficult.
Clint Offutt, assistant manager of Pro Sound, 500 E. 23rd St., said sales of car alarms had doubled since he started installing alarms three years ago.
"They've increased dramatically," he
CRIME IN LAWRENCE
Number of thefts from motor vehicle
2000 ...871
2001 ...844
2002 ...1000
2003 (through March) ...207
Source: Lawrencepolice.org
Total reported crimes in Lawrence
Total reported crimes in Lawrence
2000 ...11,955
2001 ...11,000
2002 ...11,368
2003 (through March) ...2,548
Source:Lawrencepolice.org
Lawrence Police Department budget
2000 ...$8,810,737
2001 ...$9,431,333
2002 ...$10,113,302
2003 ...$11,193,205
Source: Ed Mullins,
Lawrence Finance Director
said. "People want to protect their investment and are more aware that break-ins are common."
Offutt said alarms started around $150
and could cost up to $1500,depending on extra features the buyer wanted.
"The most basic alarms do the same as the higher-end alarms," he said. "They are added more for convenience than effectiveness."
Extra features include flashing lights, a back-up battery in case the thief cuts the battery to disable the alarm, and internal sirens that make a noise so loud inside the car that it could deafen an intruder.
But Offutt warns that if thieves want what is in a car, there isn't much one can do to stop them.
"If he wants it,he'll get it," Offutt said.
"There's no way of stopping it," he said. "We do the best we can, but until you can find a root cause it will continue."
Pattrick also acknowledged the difficulty in preventing break-ins.
The best thing one can do to protect their car is to park in a well-lit area, keep valuables out of sight and lock the doors. Many thieves simply go from car to car seeing if the doors are unlocked, Pattrick said.
— Edited by Brandon Baker