25 January 2023
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Three people forced their way into a Wichita long-term care home early Wednesday, tied up an employee and stole drugs.
At approximately 4:50 a.m., officers responded to an armed robbery call at the nursing facility in the 600 block of S. Maize Court. A 27-year-old employee said three suspects had robbed the business and tied her up.
“The employee reported that she was working when she heard a knock at the front door,” Officer Trevor Macy said. “When she opened the door, three suspects forced their way into the business. They were all wearing black nursing scrubs.”
The suspects were two men and a woman. One of them had a gun. Two of the suspects tied her up, and the three then stole various medications.
Macy was asked whether the robbers got to any of the facility’s residents.
“No residents were harmed,” he said. “The employee wasn’t harmed. They forced their way in and obviously tied up that employee, so she’s recovering from all that, but she was not injured.”
Macy did not say what types of drugs were taken.
He said that after the robbers got what they came for, they fled to the northwest. They got into a silver hatchback or small SUV waiting near Hayden and Maize Road. It was last seen heading south on Maize Road.
Police are reviewing surveillance video from the area. They will release photos if they think it will help lead to an arrest.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact WPD investigators at 316-268-4407 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.
Now, the Wichita Police Department is warning other nursing facilities and long-term care facilities about what happened.
“We just want to make other similar businesses aware of this incident, to make sure that they know what happened so employees and residents can remain safe,” Macy said. “It’s important to employees and employers to be alert and observant for suspicious activity, especially in the early morning or late night hours.”
He says facilities should have plans in place for situations like this and have regular safety meetings with staff.
“If you would like to, you can always reach out to your community policing officers,” he said. “We have their information on our website wichitapolice.com. They can come out to businesses and kind of help with security, safety planning, making sure the buildings are secure.”