By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
December 23, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — During a December meeting for the Neighborhoods and Public Safety Committee, Sgt. Lisa Allender, a Property Crimes Detective at East Patrol, updated the committee on the happenings of East Patrol division. Property crimes usually investigate stolen automobiles and property, burglaries and property damage.

She joked with the committee that her department is still at the old station and hasn’t moved to the new station and campus yet because there aren’t enough desks. She then told the committee that property crimes for 2015 are down from the previous year “which makes me pretty happy.” The sergeant explained that East Patrol gets about 30 percent of all stolen autos and burglaries in the city.

“So we are very busy at East Patrol,” Allender said.

Allender noted that its that the time of year when people want to warm up their cars unattended, and “next thing they know their car is gone.” Not only is a running, unoccupied vehicle tempting to criminals, but Allender said leaving your car while it’s running is a violation of city ordinance. City Ordinance 70-251 prohibits a vehicle from being left running while unattended without the use of a remote starting device. Remote starters start the engine, but do not disengage the transmission like when you use a key. The ordinance can’t be enforced on private property, but if a car is parked on a street or left running while someone runs into a convenience store, the owner could be cited for violating the ordinance.

“Don’t do that,” Allender said. “You’re just asking for someone to take your car. Lock your cars and don’t leave valuables inside car and you won’t make yourself a target because you’re making it easy for criminals. It’s frustrating for me to read reports like that because the victim could have prevented the crime.”

Sgt. Allender said her unit targets patterns. Recently in the Northeast, she said, there was was a string of eight burglaries in the span of one week. One victim saw the suspect face-to-face and after showing the victim a photo of someone who they believed to be the suspect, they were able to apprehend the suspect. David Smith has since been charged with second degree burglary and stealing while more charges against him are pending. During his arrest, he had in his possession some of the items that were reported stolen.

“Things like that don’t always come together that easily as much as I wish they would but when they do, it’s a win for us,” Allender said. “He’s off the streets now, I don’t know for how long, but he’s off the streets.”

Councilwoman Heather Hall recommended residents also get their packages inside their home as soon as possible when ordering gifts online.

“Don’t let packages sit [outside your door] all day or else you might not see your package,” Hall said.

Councilman Quinton Lucas, a property crime victim himself, asked Allender where property crimes tend to take place in East Patrol. Allender said although it varies from week to week, they tend to see more property crimes happen in the Northeast and the area west of Van Brunt.

Alissia Canady, Councilwoman and Chair of the committee, asked Allender what a reasonable expectation for a victim is in regards to either seeing a resolution or to getting their property returned? Allender said because there are so many crimes in East Patrol, she usually reviews at least 50 cases per day. If there is any kind of lead, she’ll assign the case to a detective.

“I cannot assign a case until there is a lead,” Allender said. “If I assigned a case before there was any lead, we’d never have time to work all the cases. Hopefully we’ll contact the victim within a couple of days.”