Residents Say 122nd & Penn. Seems to be Breeding Ground for Trouble

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City police said because there are so many apartment complexes near 122nd Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, it may seem like the area is a crime-ridden neighborhood. However, they said that's not the full story.

After a delivery man escaped two men who police said tried to rob him at the Raindance Apartments earlier this week, residents said crime in that area seems to be on the rise.

Marshall Allen said he's lived in the area for less than a year, and recently he had his car stolen. NEWS 9 searched the area using Crime Tracker and found it was scattered with several burglaries and assaults in just the past few months.

"Cookie" said she has lived around the area for 10 years and vows to stay out of a gas station near 122nd and Penn. at certain times during the day.

"It's kind of like a breeding ground for trouble if you stay there too long. I generally just try to get my stuff, get my gas and I go," "Cookie" said. "During the weekend, give or take a time after 10 around 1 or 2, when the little club let out, it could be ridiculous. It could be 20 or 30 cars in one gas station parking lot like it's a club."

Oklahoma City police said it may seem like the area is crime-ridden because of the dense population, but that's not always the case.

"They're so packed in there with the apartment complexes stacked one on top of the other. It certainly increases the population drastically," said Oklahoma City Police MSgt. Gary Knight.

"T-Mack," who has lived in the area for about 10 years, said he has never seen any trouble in town.

"I haven't seen any crime more than usual than any other side of town. It's a pretty good neighborhood to me. That's why I moved over here," "T-Mack" said.

All in all, residents said the community is trying to push for a more positive atmosphere.

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