Vandals Strike Oklahoma City Neighborhood

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Vandals ruined New Years and Christmas for dozens living in an Oklahoma City neighborhood.

Nearly 30 homeowners near NW 164 St. and MacArthur Boulevard were the targets of property crimes.

Those living in the neighborhood said once the sun goes down, the crooks come out.

Two teens were caught breaking into resident Jay Clark's company vehicle.

"Two tires and third time they got in and get in and break the glass," Clark said.

Once inside the thieves took a GPS system and blank checks. The crime was caught on a high-tech camera system that Clark personally put outside his home after thieves hit him the first time.

"Of all my years of home ownership, never been broken into until I been out here and now twice in six months," Clark said.

Jay's not alone. Out of the about 60 homes in the area, neighbors said half of them have been targets of vehicle thefts, break-ins and burglaries.

Neighbors have added spotlights and 8-foot fences to their homes. There's also a coordinated camera system throughout the neighborhood.

"Each street you're going to drive down, you will be on some kind of surveillance camera," resident Rhenda Wilkerson said.

The goal is to catch the criminals before the petty crimes turn into something much more serious.

Oklahoma City Police said they are aware of the crimes, but neighbors said they'd still like to see more of a police presence.

Developers said they do have plans to make the neighborhood a gated community, but those plans are still in the works and it could be some time before it happens.