Tulsa Couple Is Robbed After A Kind Act To Strangers

A married couple gets robbed inside their Tulsa home. They are 78 and 81 years old and have spent the last two days calling credit card companies and getting new drivers' licenses. Now, they have

Friday, December 8th 2006, 10:44 am

By: News On 6

A married couple gets robbed inside their Tulsa home. They are 78 and 81 years old and have spent the last two days calling credit card companies and getting new drivers' licenses. Now, they have a warning for others.

News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright says Greg and Joanne have been married for 59 and a half years, are full of life and love to laugh. However, they realize they made a mistake that this time, cost them their wallets, but could've cost them their lives.

Joanne is still in the Christmas spirit, despite a recent visit from Scrooge. A woman knocked on their door early Wednesday morning. She was with a young person she said was her son, they said they had car trouble and needed to use the phone. Greg took her a cordless phone, and then they asked to come in out of the cold, then to use the bathroom, then for some food.

That's when Greg saw the woman grab his wallet and take off. He tried to go after her, but he has a prosthetic leg, lost his balance, fell and hit his head. "I instinctively tried to chase after her. In my prime, I could've caught her easily." Joanne: "He caught me." Greg: "That was a whole lot better catch."

They still have their sense of humor, but, weren't very happy when they realized the thieves also took Joanne's purse out of her walker. They know it could've been worse. Joanne: â€œTo put it in a type of perspective. We were lucky. They did not try to hurt us and this is much luckier than a lot of people. I would like to be first in the firing squad if they're standing up against the wall."

They say cases like this sour the milk of human kindness and they feel they can no longer be the people who are willing to help others who claim to be in need and they want others to learn that lesson as well. Joanne: "The police really emphasized and our children emphasized, don't open the door, to put it politely."

As much as people don't want to hear it, it's true, you can't open your door to anyone you don't know, no matter if they're crying or say they're in trouble. You can help. Talk to them through the door and offer to call help for them.

The woman was in her middle to late 20's and the younger person was wearing a hooded sweatshirt with a marijuana leaf on the back.

Anyone who knows about this crime can call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS and earn a cash reward.