Robber Foiled By Unlocked Safe

TULSA, OKLA -- A daring early morning heist rocks a local clothing store on Thursday.  But, employees say they have a lot to smile about.  Tulsa Police investigators say the attempted robbery at the Name Brand Clothing Store was, in a word, bold.

The robber smashed a six foot-tall hole in the wall and spent the entire night trying to bust the safe.  He walked away empty-handed.  And, it was all caught on tape.

"He got to the front counter and just kind of reached up to the till drawers to see that there was no money in them," said company vice president Jime Breece.

He then made his way to the back room, smashing a six foot hole in the wall to get to the safe.

"We always talked about putting a door there, but not that way," said store employee Mike Ross.

Investigators say the burglar was working on the safe for more than six hours.  He managed to get a hole there, big enough just to get your hand through, but nothing was stolen from the store.      

"He just did thousands of dollars worth of damage because he's no rocket scientist," said company vice president Jime Breece.

It turns out the safe was not locked.

Workers aren't sure if it was unlocked the whole time or if tipping it over smashed the dial.  But, they say if the robber knew, he could have walked away with a few thousand bucks.

When the employees began showing up for work, the robber tried to burn the place down.

"You could see where the fire traveled up the wall, got hot right up in there in that dark, discolored pattern, and then activated that sprinkler head," said Tulsa Fire Captain Michael Baker.

Employees are trying to keep a sense of humor saying they would've hired the guy for his work ethic.

"And, he woulda made more money! Instead, he spent six hours and didn't make a dime," said company vice president Jime Breece.

NBC has a brand new door and an unlocked safe that survived an all-night burglary.

At the store, you might say their new motto is:  When life gives you a fire, have a fire sale.                 

Fire officials say because the burglar set fire to the store while people were working inside, he could be charged with first degree arson with a sentence of up to 35 years in prison.

Arson investigators say ask anyone with information about the case to call the Arson Hotline at 596-ARSN.

Jeffrey Smith - News On 6 reporter