Oklahoma Officers Increasing Patrols As Holiday Shopping Season Nears

<p>Black Friday is a week away, marking the beginning of the holiday shopping season. But it isn't all fun; it's also the most dangerous time of year for shoppers.</p>

Friday, November 20th 2015, 10:52 pm

By: News On 6

Oklahoma Officers Increasing Patrols As Holiday Shopping Season Nears

Black Friday is a week away, marking the beginning of the holiday shopping season. But it isn't all fun; it's also the most dangerous time of year for shoppers.

Shoplifters don't just fill a cart and run out. Many times, they'll use carts as a weapon; which is exactly what happened Thursday night in a Broken Arrow store.

Last year, sisters shot pepper spray at Walmart employees in Sand Springs as police said they stole shopping carts full of toys before Christmas.

One year later, Christmas crime is back, this time in Broken Arrow.

Thursday night, police said Ashley Sharpe rammed a shopping cart into a Walmart employee while trying to get away with $800 worth of groceries at the store off Kenosha.

Sergeant Thomas Cooper with BAPD said, "We increase our patrol and presence in the shopping areas because that's where our volume of calls are."

Cooper said shoppers should be on alert - take your belongings from your car, lock your car, walk with a purpose, watch your surroundings and keep your purse on you.

Cooper also said if you see a shoplifter in action, stand back.

"If it comes down to getting hurt, we don't want employees or the citizens to get hurt, obviously," he said.

This summer, father-daughter duo Alan and Kyla Gale, chased a shoplifting suspect out of Lowe's in Tulsa but got choked, kicked and taken for a ride in the process.

"I don't have to keep my hands off of him," they said. "If they get by with that, what will they go to next?"

Cooper advises against that. He'd rather people be good witnesses and get to safety and snap a picture if you see a shoplifter this holiday season.

Suspects in all shoplifting incidents mentioned were arrested.

Broken Arrow Police said many shoplifters think they'll just get a ticket if caught, but BA Police said they'll put you in jail.