East side catches break on break-ins

A series of auto and home burglaries in an east-side neighborhood may have been an inside job — inside the neighborhood, that is.

Lawrence Police said Tuesday that one of the places they searched in the investigation of the string of burglaries in the Brook Creek neighborhood was an address in the 1400 block of Prairie Avenue. They also served a related search warrant in the 1500 block of Harper Street. Both locations are in the neighborhood.

Capt. David Cobb said police had two suspects, but no arrests had been made Tuesday.

The search warrants led to the recovery of about 40 items believed to have been taken in eight home burglaries and 11 auto burglaries throughout January in Brook Creek and in a theft on West 23rd Street. Items recovered include a pool cue, compact discs, DVDs, speakers and jewelry.

The break-ins caused concern throughout the neighborhood, which resident Ann Dean said was usually quiet and was full of young children, senior citizens and married couples.

“I’m very happy that this breakthrough has been reported,” said Dean, who was not burglarized. “The whole neighborhood has been really uncomfortable.”

Capt. David Cobb said a break in the case came when the department’s patrol officers got a tip about an item believed to have been taken in one of the burglaries. They followed up by checking with local pawn shops, he said.

Some of the recovered property hasn’t been reported stolen, Cobb said. Police are asking people to contact the department at 841-7210 and ask for officers James Welch or Jamie Emerson if they think they still have items missing.

Burglaries around town have put some heat on City Hall. Police Chief Ron Olin and City Manager Mike Wildgen met last week with residents of the Centennial neighborhood, who complained about the department’s response to thefts there.

Lawrence city commissioners will discuss a new set of goals for the police department at a study session at 9 a.m. today at City Hall.Commissioners will review a consultants’ report that outlines, among other issues, how the police department could improve response times and better deal with chronic complaints from residents.

Centennial resident Laura Routh is helping organize a citizens forum at 7 p.m. March 23 at the Lawrence Public Library auditorium, 707 Vt., about “the priorities and performance” of the department.

Wildgen said he had not heard similar complaints from Brook Creek. The investigation there, he said, was a success.

video 6News video: Police crack burglary ring

“I know Ron has put a lot of resources into the Brook Creek area,” Wildgen said. “The guy is still on the loose, but they know who did it.”

— 6News reporter/anchor Janet Reid contributed to this report.