Vandals Targeting Strip Malls

A group of businesses in a Tulsa strip center say they are sick of the repeated break-ins and vandalism. They wish there were enough officers to patrol on a regular basis and catch the kids doing the

Wednesday, August 1st 2007, 5:00 pm

By: News On 6

A group of businesses in a Tulsa strip center say they are sick of the repeated break-ins and vandalism. They wish there were enough officers to patrol on a regular basis and catch the kids doing the damage at 2 oâ€™clock and 3 oâ€™clock in the morning. The business owners are trying hard to keep their businesses going, which is hard enough on its own, but you add all the expenses of repeatedly fixing broken windows and making other repairs and it gets to be too much. News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports these business owners are desperate for help.

"All the way down the street and to the highway," said Ralph Seegren with the Carpet Outlet store.

"That's a lot of water," News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright said.

Ralph Seegren says juveniles turned on a water faucet outside the Carpet Outlet store and left it running for ten hours. He says that's just one thing in a long list of things thatâ€™s happened at his store. A window was broken twice in two weeks, they replaced the $300 window once, but the second time, just covered it with plywood. Seegren says kids set a fire in a dumpster in the middle of the day, and painting over graffiti is never ending.

"They're basically sleeping while we're working. When we go to sleep at night, they're out doing their thing," Seegren said.

Every business in the Tulsa strip mall at 842 North Sheridan has been a target. The crime was even more serious at the laundry mat. Someone used a torch to cut through the metal bar on the back door. They cut the phone lines which affected everyone's business, then they broke into some games and stole hundreds of dollars. If this keeps it up, it could be costly for the whole neighborhood.

"You start losing business, then start losing tenants and it becomes a ghost town," the strip malls owner said.

Business owners realize there are not enough police officers to work these crimes with all the violence going on, that's why they're asking for help from other sources.

"We need help from the neighbors, people who know who these kids are,â€ said Seegren. â€œParents don't know it's their kids, that it's their Johnny or Suzie doing this. We've got to put an end to this. It's costing every business in the strip."

Ralph says he hears police talk about stepping up their enforcement of the curfew and he says that would go a long way. He's seen kids 12, 13, 14-years-old out at 2 oâ€™clock and 3 oâ€™clock in the morning near his strip center, as well as others in the area.

If you see or know anyone who is vandalizing Tulsa businesses call Crimestoppers, 596-COPS.

Watch the video: Vandals Target Shopping Center

Related stories:

7/25/2007 Police Step Up Curfew Enforcement After Death Of Two Teens

7/28/2007 Police Cracking Down On Curfew Violations