A growing trend of gun thefts have the Riley County Police Department concerned.
RCPD Capt. Josh Kyle told Riley County commissioners Monday morning that a recent string of vehicle thefts have found guns left inside are being targeted.
“We’re seeing a persistent crime trend and it’s bothersome,” Kyle said. “And that is the issue of guns in cars.
“We are seeing more and more guns being taken from vehicles. It’s a pattern that we’ve seen for the last eight to nine months, and it does not appear to be reducing or abating in anyway.”
Commissioner Robert Boyd asked Kyle what kind of firearms were being targeted.
“Are we talking handguns or rifles?” Boyd asked.
“Almost exclusively handguns,” Kyle answered. “It does appear guns are specifically being targeted. There is no signs of any other disruption to the vehicle or anything else being taken. It appears the vehicle is being opened — usually unlocked — and checked for a weapon. They just leave the vehicle if there is none there.”
Kyle advised the public to keep vehicles locked and to not keep firearms in them. When it came to ideas on what’s causing this crime trend, Kyle said details are scarce, but there are theories.
“Usually when you see this kind of pattern there’s some kind of market going on there,” he said. “Again, I don’t like getting into causes because I don’t have enough information yet, but that’s one of the suspicions that’s rolling around in the back of my mind, is that people are doing this because it’s a way for them to make some easy money on the street.”
In other items, Riley County 4-H Extension Agent John Jobe informed commissioners about National 4-H Week activities and Riley County Health Department Health Educator Jessica Fiscus reminded commissioners the department’s 4th Annual Okt-FLU-ber Fest returns this Thursday at Pottorf Hall in Cico Park from 3-7 p.m with registration closing at 6:30 p.m.
Along with flu shots — which will include free pumpkins to the first 250 children — there will be kids’ games, face painting, Fred the Preparedness dog, music and more.
More information on influenza can be found at www.cdc.gov/flu. Questions about this year’s Okt-FLU-ber Fest can be asked by calling the health department at 785-776-4779.
Commissioners also heard from Big Lakes Developmental Center Executive Director Lori Feldkamp, who said struggles continue when it comes to funding and efforts to get clients off long wait lists.
Feldkamp said KanCare has sent her information about a proposed waiver integration, which would look to amend KanCare’s handling of home and community based service that help people with intellectual, physical and developmental disabilities.
Feldkamp said she’s happy the state is actively looking to improve services and shrink the wait list — which number 120 in the four-county region alone — but with the current state of finances in Topeka she’s worried how the problems will be fixed.
