Teen Crime Rising During Summer Season, Tulsa Police Say

As the temperature heats up, so does crime; and, unfortunately, much of it involves teens.

Friday, police arrested a 17-year-old man suspected of shooting and killing another man; and officers are still looking for a few teens who robbed someone at gunpoint.

While not every crime is as serious, police said the recent increase in juvenile crimes is a cause for concern.

Just this week there have been a number of car break-ins near 21st and Harvard, along with vehicles that have been egged.

While police aren't positive teens are responsible, it's likely, and officers said teens can easily go from committing small crimes to much more serious ones.

Thursday, police arrested 17-year-old William Campbell. He’s suspected of shooting and killing a man on July 5th.

7/16/2015 Related Story: Police Arrest Tulsa Teen Connected To July Murder

When officers found him he had a loaded gun in his waistband; while alarming, Tulsa Police Officer Darrell Ross said it's an extreme case.

"That kind of thing, it normally doesn't happen at the top like that. They start with smaller, incidental crimes, minor crimes and work their way up to more serious crimes," he said.

This week, teens are also accused of crashing a truck into a midtown apartment after holding three people at gunpoint and stealing their belongings.

“To get to a point where you are willing to get that brazen is pretty sad," said parent Leah Penick.

It's not just violent crimes; teens are also believed to have egged cars parked in a midtown neighborhood and surveillance picture shows what appear to be young kids tipping over a port-a-potty at a residential construction site.

"Kids are going to be kids and be up to antics, but damaging other people’s property is not good," Penick said.

One neighbor said, "You should know who your kids are with, where they are at and talk to the parents where they are at to make sure it’s a safe environment.”

Parents also said children involved in even the smallest crime need to be held accountable.

"How are they going to learn? You can't tell them it's okay all the time. You have to discipline them,” one person said.

"If you have to, control who they hang out with. I don't want my kids out hanging with people who are tipping over port-a-potties, stealing from people and that type of thing," Ross said.

Police do predict teen related crime will go down again when school starts back up, but said that won't stop the other thieves who work year-round.