photo by: Lawrence Police Department; Crime Stoppers of Wichita/Sedgwick County

The two images at left are surveillance photos from a burglary reported Aug. 13, 2019, at the Islamic Center of Lawrence. The image at right is a surveillance photo of a suspect believed to have stolen some property from inside the Islamic Society of Wichita on Aug. 14, 2019.

Lawrence police think there’s a chance their suspect in an Aug. 13 burglary at the Islamic Center of Lawrence could be the same man suspected in a similar alleged incident about 160 miles away.

On Tuesday, Lawrence police put out a request for the public’s help to identify a man who they say was captured on surveillance footage stealing donation boxes that contained $1,000 to $2,000 in cash from the center, 1917 Naismith Drive.

The burglary occurred at 3:45 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, according to a news release from department spokesman Patrick Compton. The suspect they seek is a heavyset black man in his 20s, with a light mustache, according to the release. He was driving a red or maroon four-door sedan.

On Wednesday, Compton told the Journal-World that police have started working with Wichita law enforcement to see if they can determine whether the same man is sought there for allegedly stealing property from inside the Islamic Society of Wichita.

According to Crime Stoppers of Wichita/Sedgwick County, the suspect in that case arrived around 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, and stole property from inside that building.

photo by: Crime Stoppers of Wichita/Sedgwick County

This surveillance image shows a car that may be connected with a suspect in a reported Aug. 14, 2019, burglary of the Islamic Society of Wichita, according to Crime Stoppers of Wichita/Sedgwick County.

Compton said the car pictured in the Wichita surveillance footage may match what Lawrence police suspect. He said the departments see similarities and they are working to try to determine whether it is the same man and, if so, to find out who he is and locate him.

In surveillance images from both the Lawrence and Wichita burglaries, the suspect is wearing a dark maroon ball cap that appears to be lined with dark green on the underside of the bill. In the Lawrence photos, the suspect is wearing a red NBA hoodie and blue jeans; in the Wichita image, the suspect is wearing a navy T-shirt that looks like it has a peace sign on the front, and perhaps jeans or dark blue pants.

If you know the man in the photos, Lawrence police ask that you call the department at 785-832-7509. Crime Stoppers can be reached at 316-267-2111.

photo by: Crime Stoppers of Wichita/Sedgwick County

This image from surveillance shows a man suspected of stealing property from the Islamic Society of Wichita, according to Crime Stoppers of Wichita/Sedgwick County.

Islamic Society of Wichita, 6655 E 34th St N, Wichita, KS 67226