Sand Springs Police Return Truck To Grateful Crime Victim

A high speed Sand Springs police pursuit returned a stolen pickup truck to its owner. Owner Jesse Stone said it was a hard lesson to learn: never leave your keys in your car, even on a quick trip to a convenience store.

The police pursuit began when an officer saw the red Dodge truck leaving a QuikTrip in north Sand Springs with its headlights off early Sunday.

"The vehicle took off on him," said Sand Springs Lieutenant Kevin O'Keefe.

The suspect got onto eastbound Highway 64 at about 90 mph, O'Keefe said. The fleeing driver left the highway and drove through west Tulsa before finally ditching the pickup in a residential area at 43rd West Avenue and West Archer Street.

There were four men in the truck, but they all got away despite the best efforts of police including two K-9 teams.

The truck was returned to Tulsan Jesse Stone who said it was stolen from the parking lot of another QuikTrip, this one at 51st and Yale. He was at the cash register to grab a quick snack when the truck was stolen.

"It was a surreal moment," Stone told News On 6. "I pulled in, parked and jumped out, left the keys in it - not that bright," he said. It only took about two minutes for the thieves to take off in the pickup, he said.

He heard the tires squealing, turned around and saw his Dodge leaving the lot.

"It was crazy," he said.

Stone was very relieved that Sand Springs police were able to chase down his truck. There was no damage and just a cell phone missing.

He said he'd learned his lesson about leaving his truck running.

"Even if you're jumping out to go in, lock it - take your keys and everything," he said. "It's a hard lesson to learn."