Stimulating Analytical Skills

Margie, a retired employee of the school board, and her family, had a garage sale over the weekend of September 24, 2011. Margie is in her late 60’s and lives with her daughter, late 40’s, grandson 24, granddaughter 19, and great granddaughter 9 months. They are an upper middle class African American family. The sale was at 2282 N. Belmont in Wichita, KS, which is located about one block north of 21st St., between Hillside and Oliver. The house sits on a 1.24 acre lot and is a 3,820 sq. foot ranch style doll house; it lists for nearly $250,000. It was built in 1976 and had only one previous owner until June of 2010, when Margie and her family purchased it. It has 3 bedrooms, 3 ½ baths and a basement with 2 more rooms that can be made into 4th and 5th bedrooms. The neighborhood is very nice and clean, and appears to be a low risk area for crime. The house is a great, spacious house for a growing, multi-generation family that lives together. From the appearance of the well maintained house, landscaping and newer vehicles, Margie and her family value hard work and appreciate nice belongings. Margie and her family were very welcoming and friendly. She seems to be a kind, loving mother and caretaker; the kind of person that always has a house full of family and friends.
Margie mentioned that her husband passed away less than a year ago and she was selling his clothes and personal items. We think that he died suddenly because we didn’t notice any medical supplies or equipment. It’s possible that the family is living together so that Margie doesn’t have to be alone as she gets older. One of the relatives just recently moved in and they were getting rid of furniture they didn’t have room for. They were selling a nice leather couch, end tables, and wall hangings. Also for sale was many gospel and soul CDs, so they are apparently religious. One of the men in the household is, or was a craftsman or construction worker because there was a workshop in back of the house, and they were selling used tools, drills, saws and a chainsaw.
We didn’t find any criminal statistics for the house or the immediate area. There was however, some registered sex offenders located only a few blocks away. According to the wichitaeagle.com, the house is located in the North beat 47. In that beat from September 24th to 29th there were 3 drug offenses, 1 burglary, 1 larceny, 2 vandalisms, and 1 vehicle theft. For the month of September there were 2 aggravated assaults, 4 burglaries, 9 drug offenses, 6 larcenies, 3 vandalisms, and 4 vehicle thefts. From January to September there were 48 aggravated assaults, 55 burglaries, 49 drug offenses, 77 larcenies, 4 robberies, 54 vandalisms, 35 vehicle thefts, and 2 homicides. Although Margie appears to live in a safe neighborhood, because there is so much criminal activity in the closely surrounding areas, it’s possible that in time, crime will migrate and the value of her neighborhood will depreciate.