Tulsa Burglary Caught On Tape While Teens Home Alone

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

TULSA, OKLAHOMA -- Parents teach their kids what to do if they're home and there's a fire or a tornado, but they rarely teach them what to do if they are home alone and someone breaks in.

That's what happened at a Tulsa home when two teenage boys were home alone and burglars tried to break in. And it was all caught on tape.

The boys made it out, but the thieves are still on the loose.

The family had surveillance cameras at the front and back doors, because they were broken into several years ago.

At first, the thieves went to the front and knocked, which is a common way of trying to figure out if someone is home. When no one answered, they went around back and cut the power, then started breaking into the back door.

The two boys inside were 16 and 14-years-old. The older one was cooking and the younger one was asleep. When the 16-year-old heard the knock, he looked out the window, didn't see a vehicle, so ignored it until the power went out and he heard banging.

"He said, 'I went to Trace's room and I could see a guy with a crowbar,'" Kellie, their mother, said.

The older boy woke up his brother and they darted out the front door while the burglars were around back.

The brothers ran five blocks to their father's house, called 911 and then called their mom at work.

"They just keep running through the what-ifs," Kellie said. "What if I hadn't been awake, what if Trace thought I was joking, what if they had a gun, what if we'd not been able to get out."

The burglars were inside the house for four minutes before coming out, hauling the family's 42 inch flat screen TV and a pillowcase filled with I-touches, a Wii, laptops and other electronics.

"I want other parents to know what to teach your kids. I don't care where you live, it may happen," Kellie said.

Kellie is angry these criminals not only terrified her children, but also took from them something they can never get back: their sense of security and some of the innocence.

What Parents Need To Know When Leaving Children Home Alone:

• If someone knocks or rings the bell, kids should never open it, but should get as loud as possible.

• They can yell, "Dad, someone's at the door" or stomp around or blare the TV, anything to make noise because most burglars still want to break into a house that is empty, not occupied.

• Talk to them about an escape plan.

• If someone breaks in, they should get out. That's the best plan.

• If that's impossible, every home needs one room that locks and a cordless phone, so they can get in that room, lock the door and call 911.