| Updated: 10/24/2012 11:52 am |
Published: 10/23/2012 8:10 pm
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There are more detectives with new cases and there’s a new effort to catch crooks.
The Tulsa Police Burglary unit is back to full manpower.
“We hope to be able respond in a quicker manner than what we have been able to,” said TPD Burglary Sergeant Shellie Wood-Seibert. “Some of the things we will be able to do is go back and re-interview people and do canvasses that were not able to be done originally and we will have more manpower to do that.”
This week, three new detectives were added to the unit. The sergeant over the Burglary Unit is working on a mobile unit that will put detectives on the street and work with patrol officers to catch serial burglars.
Each month there are about a thousand burglaries reported to Tulsa police.
"They broke in two Mondays in a row," said Layney.
The victim didn’t want to use her full name. She lived in an east Tulsa apartment where the stick used to block the sliding glass door had been busted.
"It was just horrible. I just hated it. They took my DVDs," said the victim’s ten-year-old daughter.
Detectives said thieves are opportunists.
“It's not very fun for us who have had things taken away and it is not very fun," said the daughter.
The family thought they had watchful neighbors.
"I guess it's just a lost cause," said the victim.
However, it is not for detectives.
"When I was in patrol I had a passion for working burglaries and robberies," said Detective Adam James.
He’s been with TPD for almost six years and has spent his career in patrol. His new assignment is in the burglary division. He’s one of three new burglary detectives.
"I like catching thieves,” said James.
While burglaries are down 16% compared to this time last year in Tulsa and arrests are up, Sgt. Wood-Seibert is putting more detectives on the street in what she called a “mobile unit.”
"There is a limited amount of us and lot of burglars," said Sgt. Wood-Seibert.
With increased manpower, car break-ins will also be a priority.
"We identify a serial offender or an area of town that is getting hit," said Sgt. Wood-Seibert.
The detectives will hit the street and have more eyes on a suspect and more information sharing with patrol officers.
"Run down tags, car descriptions, associates," said Sgt. Wood-Seibert.
With more manpower, victims might also hear from a detective more often.
"We may not be able to solve everything, but every burglar that we take off the street is a burglary that is not being committed," said new Detective Naresh Persaud.
Police said the more information you have about a burglary suspect the case becomes a higher priority for detectives.
Police said to be a good witness: First, remember from head to toe what a suspect looked like, car description, tag number and if it is safe take a picture with your camera or cell phone.
Detectives said they will still investigate crimes if they don’t have suspect information. In these types of cases they will investigate if there is a crime trend and build a suspect profile if possible.
Police always recommend you report suspicious activity.
