Car thefts in Tulsa increase each year: Police take proactive approach
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Tulsa Police are looking to not only stop people behind the wheel of a stolen car but anyone who benefits from the crime.
"The goal is to identify our repeat offenders and people who are making money off stolen cars, chopping them or, you know, stripping them," said Lt. Chase Calhoun with the Tulsa Police Auto Theft Unit.
A stolen vehicle recently led police to an auto shop in east Tulsa, America Auto Mas LLC, where officers found three stolen vehicles. One of the vehicles was reportedly stripped down.
TPD made multiple arrests. Calhoun said it's part of a proactive approach to stopping crime.
"We're the number one city in the state of Oklahoma for the number of auto thefts," he said. "The goal is to get that number down by being more proactive, go out there, and actively searching for and identifying repeat offenders."
He said another tool is by educating the community about ways to prevent themselves from becoming a victim of auto theft.
In the area where officers found the stolen vehicles, near 17th and Memorial, there are several auto repair and auto sales shops. Police can legally check in with shops but by taking a proactive approach, they are looking into areas more frequently.
Sooner Fleet Auto Sales employee, Jaxon Coppinger, said they are already audited to ensure their cars are sourced legally, but they avoid doing any "sketchy" business.
"We don't do any shady things," Coppinger said. "We've made sure it's a clean green, Oklahoma title."
Sooner Fleet Auto Sales sits near the intersection at 15th and Memorial. He said police are regularly monitoring the traffic light and construction. He said he's glad officers are also there to help keep an eye on their vehicles.
About a year ago someone stole a car from their lot.
"Our camera's picked up the guy that stole it and the cops found it in about a week," said Coppinger. "So we were fine with cops coming and, you know, checking us out if they want to, or even staying in our parking lot and looking for stolen cars."
Recovering a stolen car is time-sensitive. Calhoun said once a car is stripped, it's harder to recover.
He said sometimes a car is the most expensive property someone owns and they have a right to their property. TPD works to get their property back and limit the possibility for other crimes to happen.
