Several Weapons Among Property Stolen From Tulsa Police Cars

Dan Bewley, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Tulsa police are trying to find whoever broke into nine police cruisers over the fourth of July weekend. Five cars were found Sunday afternoon, and then Monday four more cars were discovered with broken windows.

07/03/2011 Related Story: Five Tulsa Police Cars Broken Into Over Weekend

Investigators look for fingerprints at a Tulsa crime scene. Only this time the tables have turned a bit and Tulsa police is now trying to solve a crime where the department is the victim.

Corporal David Smasal says five police cars were broken into sometime between the evening of July 1st and the afternoon of July 3rd.

The cars were all parked at the city's maintenance yard near Newblock Park in west Tulsa. The suspects broke in through the back, rear wing window.

Corporal Smasal says several things were stolen, including rifle and pistol magazines, knives, and handcuffs. But the biggest concern is that the suspects also took a shotgun.

"Anytime bad guys have access to weapons we're not happy about that and, unfortunately, officer's vehicles and houses are routinely targeted because bad guys know we have weapons," Smasal said.

Corporal Smasal says the cases matches one that happened in March at the same facility. He says police have DNA and fingerprints from that burglary and they're working to see if it matches those taken this past weekend.

Police are also trying to determine if it was one person or a group of people. But Corporal Smasal is confident that because they hit police property, whoever's responsible will have a hard time keeping it a secret.

"A lot of time they'll brag and with the weapons in particular, they like showing off the police gun...'This is a police shotgun, this is a police magazine' whatever it is so they'll probably be bragging to somebody," he said.

Corporal Smasal says anyone with information is asked to call crime stoppers at 596-COPS. You can remain anonymous and get a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest and conviction.