Lawrence police seek tips after smoke shop burglary on 23rd Street

A burglar shattered the window at Smoke Totz on 23rd Street just before midnight Saturday, then emptied the cash register and stuffed a large backpack with merchandise before leaving. Lawrence police are asking for help identifying the person responsible for the break-in at 520 W. 23rd St., where the damage likely means lost cash, stolen stock, cleanup costs and new security worries for a small business on one of the city’s busiest retail corridors.

Officers collected evidence at the scene, and the investigation is still open. Police did not immediately release a suspect description, leaving surveillance footage, witness accounts and tips from anyone who may have seen someone lingering near the shop before or after the burglary as the most useful leads.

The case matters beyond a single storefront. For smoke shops and other late-night businesses along the 23rd Street corridor, a forced entry can do more than crack glass. It can disrupt operations, force immediate repairs, and push owners to reassess cameras, alarms, locks and display inventory after a quick hit that still leaves a long bill behind.

Lawrence police asked anyone with relevant information to call nonemergency dispatch at 785-843-0250 or Crime Stoppers of Lawrence and Douglas County at 785-843-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers says it takes information about criminal activity and passes it to law enforcement for immediate action, and Lawrence-Douglas County 911 Dispatch serves as the primary dispatch center for the City of Lawrence.