You come home from work and find your home ransacked. Thieves are hitting homes when nobody is at home.
This year Tulsa Police Burglary detectives say 3,854 residential burglaries have been reported. That’s one burglary for every 100 homes.
FOX23’s Abbie Alford takes a look at Tulsa’s burglary zones and where the crooks are striking.
Each year Tulsa police say 12,000 burglaries are reported. With ten burglary detectives in the Tulsa Police Department that’s over a thousand cases per investigator who are tracking down your plasma TV, jewelry, computers and sometimes guns and other items.
The majority of people getting ripped off is happening right in their own home.
According to the Tulsa Police Department’s Crime Map, residential burglaries appear to make up for a majority of Tulsa’s crime.
The map shows thieves are prowling in homes in north, east, south and west Tulsa.
However, the map shows there’s a few housing additions who are nearly burglary free but surrounded by thieves.
“There’s no place for a crime-proof area but as far as burglary goes the better your neighbors are the better the chances are you won’t be victimized,” says TPD Burglary Sgt. Brandon Watkins.
Tulsa Police say since COMPSTAT they’ve made a huge impact on Part 1 crimes including burglaries.
Police say burglary arrests are up 17% compared to last year.
Each month police evaluate hot spots for crime such as burglary and use directed patrols to saturate those areas.
The Burglary Unit has also spearheaded an effort with the District Attorney’s office to identify repeat burglars.
When a repeated burglar is arrest their arrest report is red-flagged notifying the courts about the repeat bad guy.
Part II
A glimpse at the Tulsa Police Department’s Crime Map shows there are very few safe zones for home break-ins.
It’s not just the cooler temperatures keeping Reginald Mayes’ home in North Tulsa safe. It’s where he lives and who his neighbors are on his street.
“I call this Fantasy land,” says Mayes.
Mayes lives in a home addition off Mohawk Boulevard, an area where many people believe is a known notorious area for crime.
Mayes’ neighborhood sits between East 56th St. North and W. Apache and N. Cincinnati and N. Lewis. However, a desert of crime surrounds his oasis. More than 200 home break-ins have been reported on the outskirts of his neighborhood this year.
“When there’s something awry you see it. You know it right off the bat, 'okay that’s not normal,'” say Mayes. “I think the neighbors communicate. If we see something that is different or out of pocket or shouldn’t be we speak up and make a phone call, ‘hey what’s going on?’”
The next phone call is to police.
“Great neighbors make great crime defense,” says TPD Burglary Sgt. Brandon Watkins.
Watkins says it’s not where you live but who lives on your street that could attract or deter thieves.
“Where there are very few burglaries there are very active neighborhood watches and you’ll have people get involved,” says Watkins.
Moving South, the TPD Crime Map shows burglars are working hard.
“61st and Peoria and right over here on 61st and Lewis,” says Watkins.
There’s Southern Hills, an upscale neighborhood surrounded by more than 300 burglaries this year and an Alert Neighbor Program.
Watkins says just because people live in low-income housing or renting doesn’t necessarily mean the criminals come calling.
“It all comes down to the people that live there,” says Watkins.
Police say to better protect your neighborhood you can start with an Alert Neighbor program and make sure if you’re not home, the good guys are watching.
“We have to have the help of the community to get this stuff done and for people to decide, ‘Well I’d rather live with burglars and dopers and rapists and God knows what else in my midst because it’s easier than being a snitch’. Well then you get what you ask for,” says Watkins.
Police recommend before you leave your house make sure you lock your doors and windows, shut your blinds, and keep your TV out of sight.
If you have a home-alarm system remember to set it.
