The Wichita Police Department reports increases this year in the homicide rate and in auto thefts, but there has been a decrease in other violent crimes across the city.

Lieutenant Aaron Moses said there has been a significant increase in auto theft cases.  There have been 422 vehicles stolen so far this year, and almost one fourth have been Kia and Hyundai vehicles.   The increase has been connected with a video on social media showing how to steal those vehicles.    Moses said owners of Kia and Hyundai vehicles are urged to take extra precautions to prevent theft.  He said police have made a number of arrests in these cases.

The police department is investigating at least 12 homicides so far this year, and the homicide rate is up 60 percent, three percent higher than the five-year average.   Even with that increase, other violent crimes have been down.   Moses said Part 1 violent crimes, including rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, are down by an overall rate of ten percent compared to last year, and it’s down eight percent compared to the five-year average.

Moses said year-to-date, rape cases are down 29 percent compared to last year, and 39 percent below the five-year average.  Robbery cases are down 20 percent, and they are 28 percent below the five-year average.   Aggravated assault and aggravated battery cases are down 8 percent this year, and cases involving the discharge of a firearm are down 45 percent, and 41 percent below the five-year average.  There has also been a 17 percent drop in drive-by shootings.

Moses said the department is encouraged by the trends, but there is still work to be done.  The department is planning community town halls to talk about a violent crime reduction strategy and the development of a real-time crime center.