WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Wichita police are sounding the alarm about a rise in burglaries this time of year. It’s not just homes but businesses that are often the target of thieves.
The owner of Simple Sangria in Wichita says he’s been hit twice in the last two years. His losses are well into the thousands.
It’s a trend that usually ticks up during the holiday season.
Simple sangria opened its doors in 2019.
Owner Brian Miller says the burglaries began in 2022. He was hit again in 2023, and each time, his small business suffered a big loss.
“You try to do the right things, and then someone comes along and within, you know, just a matter of seconds, you know, they destroy a lot of what you’ve worked hard for,” said Miller.
Wichita police work about 17,000 larceny and 12,000 cases of burglaries a year.
Sergeant Trevor McDonald says most of these crimes occur when the business is “Closed.”
“We do see a lot of business burglarized in town,” said Sergeant McDonald. “These give other opportunities for no good thieves and scoundrels to go out there and break into these businesses, so we see it a lot more when you see something like that, a business sitting still for a little bit.”
Sergent McDonald says there are things businesses can do to help prevent crime.
“They can be motion synced, they can be monitored, they can be monitored, and lighting is much better than it’s ever been with the only lighting coming up…so there are those things, said McDonald. One of the overriding things that I try to tell everybody is to be part of your neighborhood.”