Around our towns

A rash of vehicle break-ins and thefts of catalytic converters has Lee’s Summit police asking the public to look out for suspicious activity in large shopping areas and apartment parking lots.

Thieves take the converters so they can sell the metal.

Police Sgt. Chris Depue said that on April 16, four converters were stolen from vehicles parked outside an apartment complex in the 1400 block of Southwest Third Street. He said thieves target parking lots because they have plenty of vehicles to choose from and they can hide between vehicles to avoid detection.

As for prevention, Depue said, there are devices that bolt onto the catalytic converter and prevent it from being stolen. Also, muffler shops can weld steel plates and brackets around the converter.

On May 1, Matthew Mace will become the fifth fire chief of the 70-year-old Raytown Fire Protection District. He has been interim fire chief since late October.

Mace became a paramedic in 1995 and started working for Raytown EMS in 1996, the fire district said. He moved to the district as a firefighter/paramedic in 1999 and was was promoted to fire marshal in 2007.

The Mid-Continent Public Library system will erase library fines for people who donate food to local food pantries through the library.

The trial run of Food for Fines is May-10. Each food item — not expired, damaged or opened — will count as $1 off overdue fines or replacement card charges, up to $10.

By helping people clean up their accounts, the library staff hopes the program will lead to more students participating in the summer reading program.

For more information and a listing of local food pantries, visit

mymcpl.org/food-for-fines

.

To encourage vegetable gardening and healthy eating, the Kansas City Community Garden and Independence Health Department will distribute seeds and plants on two upcoming Thursdays: May 1 and 15.

To take part, residents must be members of the Kansas City Community Garden. It costs $2 for those with incomes low enough to qualify and $12 for others. Residents should bring their membership cards or join at the distribution events.

Members are entitled to receive 10 packets of seeds of their choice, a five-pound bag of fertilizer, a community gardening newsletter, discounts on additional seeds and fertilizer, and a discount on vegetable plants.

The distribution will be from 3 to 6 p.m. both days at the health department, 515 S. Liberty St.

This story was originally published April 28, 2014 at 8:29 PM with the headline "Around our towns."