Tulsa Business Owner Burglarized 3 Times

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A Tulsa business owner has been hit by burglars three times recently, including Tuesday and Thursday of last week.

The bad news is the criminals are costing the business owner a lot of money. The good news is they were caught on video tape.

The first break-in, the thief went in through the roof. In surveillance video, you can see the duct work fall into the store, then moments later, he drops down into the showroom.

It's the Cricket Store at 15th and Memorial and the crook took the entire cash register, which had about $114 in it. Then, he kicked open the door to the backroom, where he took six cell phone boxes to his car. They turned out to be empty.

Alex Fernandez owns the store, and two others, and this was the first of three break-ins.

"We want them caught. We're tired of it. If it happens to me today, it will happen to someone else tomorrow and if they don't get caught, they'll keep on doing it," said Alex Fernandez, burglary victim.

The next break-in happened at the Cricket Store at 31st and Sheridan. Two men broke the front glass door and went inside. They made off with a laptop and half a dozen phones.

The break-ins have cost about $3,000 in repairs and losses -- too little to turn into insurance, but enough that it hurts a small business' bottom line.

"It's a lot of work, time, time away from family. It's tough and especially nowadays with the economy being like it is, you really gotta watch your money," said Alex Fernandez.

Alex says he refuses to let the break-ins make him mad or change the way he does business. He prefers to look on the bright side, which is now that the burglars have been shown on TV, they'll soon be behind bars.

Anyone who recognizes the burglars should call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 596-COPS.

You can text the information, beginning with TIP918 to CRIMES. You will remain completely anonymous and could earn $1,000 reward if police make an arrest.