Brookside homeowners concerned about property crimes on the rise

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Neighbors in one section of the Kansas City metro want more done about property crimes.

This comes after a community meeting last Thursday, during which, a Kansas City police sergeant told an audience of homeowners from the Brookside neighborhood they know who’s behind these crimes, which include car break-ins, gunfire and other concerns. The perception is that not enough is being done by police.

“A police sergeant said — we know who these guys are, and we know where they live,” John Murphy, a board member with the Armour Fields Homes Association, said on Tuesday.

Murphy attended last week’s community meeting. He’s angry about a series of recent crimes. He mentioned Saturday afternoon’s incident at Bobby Baker’s Lounge in Waldo , where bar patrons were threatened when they realized their cars were being ransacked.

A bar manager confirmed for FOX4 those patrons were threatened by teenagers with long guns when they tried to stop the break-ins. Murphy also mentioned an incident from South Kansas City’s Verona Hills neighborhood, where a home was shot up by criminals.

“Why are (the suspects) still on the streets? Why haven’t you pulled a search warrant, searched their homes, and thrown them in the hoosegow?” Murphy asked.

FOX4 asked the Kansas City Police Department for clarification regarding property crime arrested that involve teenagers, but we didn’t hear back before Tuesday’s deadline. A member of the police department’s media unit sent crime statistics that indicate an uptick in reports of stolen automobiles.

KCPD Deputy Chief Doug Neimeier, who works with the department’s investigations bureau, confirmed that his sergeant told last Thursday’s audience police are familiar with these criminals. He said police are working hard to address the concern, and he recommends the public to take precautions, like removing valuables from their vehicles.

“We have a small group of people committing a large amount of crime, so hopefully, when we arrest them, and we are going to arrest them, it will stop,” Niemeier said at Tuesday’s morning’s Kansas City’s Board of Police Commissioners meeting.

Neimeier also said he’s working closely with Jackson County prosecutors to find solutions.

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