University Daily Kansan / Thursday, February 28, 1991
5
Valuable stereo equipment targeted by fencing thieves
By Mike I. Vargas Kansan staff writer
Reported auto burglaries involving the theft of stereo equipment have increased this semester in comparison to the past four years.
One reason there have been more burglaries is because of the weather, said Chris Mulvenon, Lawrence police representative.
"They will not leave tracks because there is no snow or mud on the ground — everything is right for auto burglar." Mulvenon said.
Besides the increase in the reported incidents of auto burglary, there has been an increase in more thefts and equipment being stolen, he said.
According to police reports, the nine most expensive car stereos stolen this semester from KU students were valued at a total of $21.973.
The average cost of each stereo was $2,441.
Between Feb. 12 and 14, three car stereos were stolen from KU students, Lawrence police reported. The stereo was ranged in price from $1,025 to $7,460.
The thieves that are looking for expensive stereos know that college students are more likely to have them. Mulvenon said.
In addition, there seems to be periodic trends when thieves are looking for particular expensive brand names. Mulvenon said.
"About a year ago, Blaupunkt stereos were being targeted." Mulvenon said. "Kenwood and Alpine stereos were also hit real hard, and it was quite obvious that thieves were targeting these names."
It is not uncommon for car burglaries that are arrested to come from Topeka, he said.
KU police Lt. Lohn Mullens said that out-of-town thieves might be running operations in Kansas City and Topeka.
Fencing involves people or businesses buying and selling stolen property, sometimes through a legitimate front. Mullens said.
Mullens said the value of high wattage and high fidelity stereo equipment had increased tremendously.
Theives use logical deduction when targeting expensive stereos, Mullens said. Theives are attracted to more expensive apartment complexes and cars because those students are more likely to have expensive stereo systems.
Many insurance companies protect themselves from claims about stolen car stereos.
Fauzi Sellami, agent for Farmer's Insurance Group, said that a comprehensive insurance policy that applied to factory-installed stereos.
A floater insurance policy that imares special items such as jewelry or watches.
Volume of business, number of stores continue to increase at Riverfront mall
By Katie Chipman
Kansan staff writer
Retailers at the Lawrence Riverfront Plaza say business has been improving since the mall opened almost a year ago.
David Longburst, manager of the mall, said the mall opened in April with nine stores. It now has 45 stores.
"We opened very strong," he said. "The stores held up through the summer, and we had a strong Christmas."
Longhurst blamed slow sales in January on bad weather and the war in the Persian Gulf.
He said more stores were sched uled to open before summer.
Before the mail opened, some downtown retailers thought the mail would take business away from them.
The mall features retail stores that sell items ranging from clothing to kitchen appliances. It also has a food court.
But Longhurst said, "We estimate that nearly 70 percent of our traffic comes from outside of Lawrence. That is new business for Lawrence."
"We are a destination center. The typical factory outlet shopper will drive a long time to shop. It is a good place for customers, our downtown retailers to benefit."
Teresa Prochaska, manager of G.H. Bass Factory Outlet, said most of the store's business was from out of town.
"Business has steadily increased, but we've been doing well from the beginning," she said.
Paul Duncan, assistant manager of Book Warehouse, said the store had been in the mall for six months.
"We did really well during the Christmas season, and it's slowing down now," he said.
Lori Ann Myers, assistant manager at the Housewares Store, said KU students were a big part of the business on the weekends.
Many downtown retailers said that the mall had not had a bad effect on business.
Cyndi Higgins, store manager at Saffees, 922 Massachusetts St., said, "If anything, the mall has helped us. It's brought in a lot of out-of-town people that wouldn't usually shop here."
However, Kathy Mattan, store manager at Maurices, 708 Massachusetts St., said the mall had not brought many shoppers.
"We get a lot of people who are looking for the mall, but I don't think it has hurt business," Mattan said.
She said the downtown businesses cooperated with mall retailers by referring people to the mail.
Leslie Johnson, owner of the Loft,
742 Massachusetts St., said, "The mall has affected the parking problem in the downtown area. We're in a block that's closer to the mail and we are a run-off of cars from the mail."
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