OKC Police Investigate String Of Auto Burglaries

Lock your car doors, especially if you live on the southwest side of Oklahoma City.

Police say they have had a number of car burglaries. Investigators are especially concerned because in a couple of cases, the suspects stole guns. 

Fortunately, a couple of the victims do have surveillance cameras. Like Vernon Barrett, video from the front of his home shows the burglar walking up and simply opening the passenger side door of his pickup that was parked in his driveway.

“I faithfully lock it every night, but that one night I forgot to lock the door,” he said.

When Barrett walked out of his garage the next morning, he noticed his car door was still open.

“First thing I checked for was the pistol and it was gone.  And then I started looking, I saw he took the garage door opener and the other stuff,” he said.

Police said Barrett is one of 12 people in his area who reported someone broke into their vehicle since September 8 and most of them left their cars unlocked. The area runs from SW 119, SW 149 between Portland and Pennsylvania. Police aren’t sure if they're all related.

But Corina Rangel’s surveillance camera captured a thief making his way through her nearby neighborhood.

“It showed one of the guys going off running, like I said going towards their truck and then going to my neighbor’s car and then to ours,” said Rangel.

The burglar opened the tool box on their pickup but didn't get anything from her or her neighbors.

“We’d definitely like to see them caught and put an end to this,” said Barrett.

If you recognize anyone in the pictures contact Crime Stoppers at 235-7300. Meanwhile, police said they will be increasing patrols in the area.