Residents vigilant after ‘person-of-interest’ ID’d in KCK apartment burglaries

The day after police identified a “person of interest” in a series of burglaries and attacks at the Woodview Apartments, residents on Friday said they were relieved, but would remain vigilant.

“I don’t go on walks by myself or on the trail by myself,” said Shannon Johnston, who has lived for about a year with her family in the apartment complex in a quiet, semi-secluded wooded area off of the 18th Street Expressway and Interstate 35.

“It’s not that I’m really afraid, it’s just I don’t go by myself.”

Kansas City, Kan., police said they were looking to speak with a 33-year-old man about the series of attacks and burglaries.

Police announced on April 2 that they were investigating four aggravated burglaries at the complex in the 3100 block of Woodview Ridge Drive.

In three of the four cases, the victims had been assaulted.

Police believe the burglar entered through balcony doors on both upper and lower levels of the apartment buildings and left through the front door.

Despite the recent crimes, Johnston and her brother Lalo Johnston said they don’t feel uneasy living there. They are just more aware of their surroundings and make sure everything is locked up.

“It’s a nice place and area,” Shannon Johnston said. “Bad stuff happens everywhere.”

Paul Rodriguez, who moved in less than a month ago, said it helps knowing that police have identified a possible suspect.

“You don’t think that crime will happen where you live,” he said. “Unfortunately, it happened here.”

Logan Burrow, who has lived at the apartments for just under a year, said she and her roommate were a little frustrated because they were unaware that the crimes were taking place. They wished the complex managers had let residents know sooner and the extent of the crimes.

The crimes have the two reconsidering whether to look for another place to live.

“It depends on how this plays out,” Burrow said. “The lease is up in July.”

In the meantime, they will continue to check in with each other and make sure the doors are locked — including using a bar Burrow’s grandfather made to keep the porch door secured.