Wichita Police Department's new unit cracking down on property crimes
Oct 31, 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Wichita Police Department Chief Joseph Sullivan discussed his department's new unit, the Property Crimes Reduction Task Force, which is designed to reduce crime.
In the 10 days it has been working, the department said officers have recovered 32 stolen cars, $635,000 in stolen property, and a multitude of drugs. Forty-three arrests were made, and 55 warrants were cleared.
"Let me clear anyone who seeks to disrupt our neighborhood's peace, threaten our businesses, livelihood, or undermine public safety will face swift and serious consequences," Sullivan said.
The department's task force works in high-risk crime areas using surveillance and data analysis.
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"We know when you're fencing the property, we know you're doing it out of motels, we know you're doing it on Facebook Marketplace and every other site that we're monitoring," WPD Capt. Casey Slaughter, property crimes commander, said.
Those sites are used to sell stolen items from businesses and retailers, and those businesses are working with police to combat theft.
"You should no longer feel comfortable that you're just going to walk into a retail store and walk out with a couple thousand dollars worth of items and not have anything happen to you. We probably are there, and if we aren't there in the moment, we're going to come and get you later," Slaughter added.
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Police said there will be no second chances for those who commit crimes repeatedly.
"We're taking a zero-tolerance policy for repeat offenders," Slaughter said. "Property crime may not be inherently dangerous or violent, but make no mistake, you're leaving damage behind. From this point on, if you're committing these crimes, you're going to face every consequence the law allows, and again, no more second chances."
If anyone has any information on a crime, they are asked to contact Crime Stoppers by calling 316-267-2111, submitting a tip online, or submitting a tip through their mobile app, which is available through Google Play and Apple's App Store.
The WPD's task force is a collaborative effort involving the Kansas Highway Patrol, Sedgwick and Butler County Sheriff's Offices, and Bel Aire and Mulvane police.