Gas thefts from homes, vehicles on the increase
Local police officers took a report April 23 of gas stolen from 209 N. Maple.
"Actually we have had reports of gas thefts all over town," said chief Bruce Burke. "The victims generally choose not to file an official report. They just want us to know about it in case there are others and there is a pattern to the thefts or something.
"The trouble is that if they don't help us fill out the paperwork and actually create a case file, there is nothing we can do about the problem."
Burke said the gas is being siphoned from vehicles and mowers as well as being stolen from storage containers in sheds and garages.
"There is a Kansas statute that allows for the revocation of a person's driver's license if they are convicted of stealing gas," Burke added. "So if we have reports of actual cases and we arrest someone who is later convicted, there is punishment for that crime."
Burke also reported a "juvenile incident." No details were available.
On Thursday he assisted an elderly woman from Goddard who drove into Peabody and was confused and didn't know where she was.
"She had been missing from Goddard for about five hours," he said. "She had left her home to go to the grocery store and to a hair appointment and ended up in Peabody.
"She was suffering from a problem with dementia and we were able to reunite her with her family," Burke added.
Previous week
April 16 to 22
Peabody police chief Bruce Burke reported a battery incident at Peabody-Burns High School April 19 when two students were involved in a physical altercation. Discipline of the students is being handled by school personnel.
On Friday an arrest was made on a Marion County warrant.
Peabody police also assisted with reports on two civil issues during the past week.
