By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
Saline County Undersheriff Brent Melander has a message for motorists in the county: lock your vehicles, and if you have to leave valuables in your vehicle, keep them out of sight.
Two vehicles in the same part of the county were burglarized during the same time period Thursday. It is believed that the two cases, which are still under investigation, are connected, Melander said.
In the first of the two cases reported to the sheriff's office, Shuwen Wang, 54, of Salina, reported that he had parked his 2018 Honda Accord in a parking lot at the Land Institute, 2400 Water Well Road at 9 a.m. Thursday When he returned to his car at approximately noon, he discovered that his debit card, a credit card, and miscellaneous cash were missing from his wallet that he had left in the car's console, Melander said. There was no sign of forced entry, Melander added.
In the second case, Kimberly Fulkerson, 43, of Salina, reported that while she and her daughter were taking a walk at the Marty Bender Nature Trail, 3000 S. Holmes Road, someone broke into her locked 2019 Mazda CX9 and took credit cards and miscellaneous cash, Melander said. The incident occurred between 10:18-11:10 a.m. Thursday. Melander said the lock on the driver's side door had been punched out.
"If you're gonna go out and have fun, if you have to put your stuff in the trunk, put it in the trunk. Lock your car. Don't let stuff be visible out there. Don't leave your wallet in your car. Don't leave your handgun unattended in your car," Melander said. "That's just basically putting a flashing sign on top of your hood."