On Feburary 7m the City of Topeka and the Topeka Police Department announced a crime-fighting initiative. Members of the public are invited to be invovled witt the initiative. The Topeka Police Department has entered into an agreement with  Electronic Tracking Systems^SM (ETS) which will provide tools, technology and training necessary to reduce property crime in our city. 

The City of Topeka is the first in the nation to adopt a large scale proactive program, which can be used as a blueprint for success in other communities. Topeka property crimes and robberies occur at a very high rate in our community. They present a constant, recurring and expensive threat to our city and our economy. In the past several years, community activisim has helped reduce these crimes. The statistics have improved in the past several years, there is more work to do. 

In 2012, the City of Topeka saw 6,817 property crimes (auto theft, burglary, copper, pharmaceutical and construction material thefts, etc.).  Each crime can cost the community from $7,500 to $21,000 on average.  The most conservative estimate, $7,500 per crime, reveals a potential cost to our community of more $51 million, and a significant amount of this crime is preventable. 

Working with the Property Crime Reduction Program facilitator, ETS, the Topeka Police Department will strive to achieve the following results, because a reduction in crime equals an increase in property value, retail value, and general wellbeing of the community.

According to the departments release they can:

• Increase gross municipal product.
• Increase housing values.
• Increase commercial development/values.
• Increase tax base and revenues.
• Create a safer place for citizens to work, play, and live.

It will take community involvement to generate the funds to implement and support a program of this scope.  Many members of our community have been directly affected by this type of crime and understand the personal nature and expense of property crime.  

Donations can be made to:

Safer Cities Better Cities Topeka/PARS

2209 SW 29th Street

Topeka, Kansas 66611-1908
Phone: 785.266.4606

Fax: 785.266.3833

Donations can also be made online at www.parstopeka.com – Click the funding button under the “About Us” tab.

Please take this opportunity to hear how crime affects you and our entire community every day.   Together we can make Topeka a Safer City - Better City.

Jennifer Thomas, the Topeka Program Manager for ETS, will be available for more information at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (785) 368-9571.

For more information please visit http://www.topeka.org/city/comm_view.php?pr=4274