Woman Watching News Spots Stolen Gyrocopter In OKC

LaShauna Sewell, News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY – A woman who saw the story of a stolen gyrocopter on the news spotted the flying machine sitting across the street from her home in northeast Oklahoma City.

Thieves stole Bruce Akbara's experimental aircraft early Tuesday morning from Stone and Stucco Company in south Oklahoma City. Police say the crooks used some kind of equipment to drag the copter onto a trailer.

8/2/11 Related Story: Thieves Steal Helicopter From South OKC Business

Akbara bought the gyrocopter from an Oklahoma City Public Schools auction a few months ago. He says he hadn't even flown it himself because he was never able to make it fly.

"I never thought that somebody would come and steal it," said Akbara. "I don't even think they can use the parts!"

A woman saw the story of Akbara's stolen gyrocopter on the news Tuesday night. Later that evening, she spotted the flying machine in the 6000 block of Wilshire. It was sitting in the driveway of an abandoned house across the street. The woman called police.

When officers arrived, they confirmed it was the stolen gyrocopter. They notified Akbara then towed the gyrocopter to police headquarters.

The thieves have not been caught.