Tulsa Police Say Don't Fight Carjackers, Just 'Give It Up'

Police say it happens about twice a month in Tulsa and almost always because someone needs a getaway car.

Friday, August 1st 2014, 6:25 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Police Say Don't Fight Carjackers, Just 'Give It Up'

Tulsa police are searching for a man police believe carjacked two people within an hour in Tulsa. The man got away and detectives have been pulling surveillance video today from both locations.

What should you do if you’re facing a carjacker?

Having someone put a gun in your face and take your vehicle by force is a terrifying experience. Police say it happens about twice a month in Tulsa and almost always because someone needs a getaway car.

Police aren't sure what happened at Walmart at Admiral and Memorial to start the fight, but they do know after things went wrong, a man took off in the victim's Honda.

They later found that car abandoned on the highway after it either caught on fire or someone set it on fire.

Either way, police were on the carjacker's trail and he needed another set of wheels, so they say he carjacked a Chevy Avalanche from a man at the QuikTrip near 31st Street and Mingo Road.

8/1/2014 Related Story: Police: Two Drivers Carjacked By Same Man In East Tulsa

Carjackings are violent crimes by nature.

"People dragged from their cars and beaten, just for a vehicle, it steps up the game," Sgt. Brandon Watkins said.

In 2011, a gunman shot and killed a 24-year-old University of Tulsa electrical engineering masters student at 21st and Yale during a carjacking.

Moments later, he carjacked another victim, who barely had time to grab his baby from the car before the suspect took off in it.

In 2008, Brandon Brixey yanked a woman from her van and took off in her car with her children inside. He choked, beat and raped the 8-year-old girl.

He's now in prison for life.

Police say when faced with a carjacker, there is only one course of action.

"Absolutely give it up,” Watkins said.

Police are relieved no one was hurt in Friday's two carjackings, but, say they want to find the man who did them, before he strikes again and the victims aren't so lucky the next time around.

If you have any information about where the vehicle or the crime, you are asked to call CrimeStoppers at 918-596-COPS.