Police bust a burglary ring and they have an alert neighbor to thank.
Two suspects are accused of breaking into at least ten midtown homes.
Police arrested Michael Meeks, 22, and Ashleigh Means, 21, who are suspected of breaking into homes in the area of Interstate 44 and 15
th Street and between Riverside and Sheridan.
A mother put up signs listing her stolen items and talked with neighbors about thieves breaking into their home.
She learned she wasn’t the only victim and found out what the suspect vehicle looked like.
A few days after her home was broken into, the victim and her daughter noticed a maroon SUV with a missing driver’s side window in their neighborhood.
"I said get a picture of it,” said the victim.
She wants to use only her first name, Dody. She said a neighbor had seen a similar car around the time of the burglaries.
"People do pay attention. They do pay attention to what goes on around here,” said Dody.
She believes the driver was the suspect, Ashleigh Means, who had broken into her house earlier that week and stole her treasures.
"It was an earring from a friend who passed” said Dody.
Computers, toys and clothes were also stolen.
"We were kind of like Wal-Mart and a jewelry store,” said the victim.
Dody said she eventually caught up with Means and flagged her down. The suspect claimed she was lost and had two kids in the back seat.
"I just stopped her and asked her where she was staying,” said Dody.
She said Means told her she was staying at the Trade Winds Inn.
Dody didn’t feel safe confronting her in front of children so she went home and dropped off her own child.
She went to the hotel and saw Means and another suspect who was hauling computers and other loot out of the hotel.
Officers arrived ten minutes later. They found Dody’s stuff and items stolen from at least ten other victims.
"These people were so active within a short amount of time,” said burglary Sergeant Shellie Wood. "They are very busy."
Police said the pair were known for fraud and forgery.
The victim said she wanted the suspects caught, but, more, she hoped the suspects would learn their lesson.
"I want justice, I want righteousness and I want mercy. People are more important than things,” said Dody.
Records show Means has been officially charged with burglary and stolen property and has bonded out of jail. Meeks is still in jail.
Many neighbors are sharing information on Facebook.
Check to see if your neighborhood has a page or you can go to the
Tulsa Midtown Alert Neighbor Facebook page to learn how to share suspicious activity on your street.
