WSU sees string of car thefts on campus

Wichita State Police report that several Honda Accords have been stolen from WSU parking lots during the past two months. All thefts occurred during daylight hours.

A 1992 Honda Accord was stolen from the parking lot located south of Cessna Stadium in September. A 1994 Honda Accord was stolen from the parking lot adjacent to Hillside Street a few days later.

These cars were recovered the Wichita Police Department officers on two different days. Each car was missing its catalytic converters.

On Monday afternoon, a 1994 Honda Accord was stolen form the parking lot at 17th St. and Holyoke Street and a 1995 Honda Accord was stolen from the parking lot south of Cessna Stadium, also on Monday.

The second 1994 Accord was recovered by Sumner County authorities Tuesday with the catalytic converter missing. The 1995 Accord has not been found and is blue with the license tag number of 548EUJ.

WSU Capt. Cecil Hashenberger said Honda Accords from the 1990s are popular cars for thieves.

“They’re easy to steal and the catalytic converters themselves are expensive to begin with,” he said.

Hashenberger said the thieves might be seeking the metal from the converters or the cars’ parts.

He said car thefts usually increase this time of year with the onset of the holidays.

“Cars get hit every year at Christmas time,” Hashenberger said.

The reason they get broken into is because thieves can see something valuable inside the car, he said. Visible packages or coins are enough for thieves to considering stealing or breaking into a car.

“The better job everybody does (of hiding valuables) the better off you are,” Hashenberger said.

The department makes the following recommendations to decrease the possibility of car theft and break-ins:

•Lock your car.

•Do do not leave visible items in your car. Put them in the trunk or in a covered hatchback.

•Use a visible or audible warning device, such as a steering wheel lock bar or audible alarm.

•If your car is an early 1990’s model or older, consider installing a “kill switch” or fuel cut-off technology.

•Consider installing a GPS tracking device for your car in case of theft.

•Suspicious activity or possible criminal behavior should be reported by calling 911, activating one of the 20 Emergency Blue Light Telephones on the main campus or by calling the University Police Department at 978-3450.