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Police are sorting through nearly thirty reports of robberies in Tulsa that took place from Thursday night through Monday. That's more than they'd see during a typical month.
The robberies weren't focused on one area, but were reported city-wide -- scattered through North, East and South Tulsa. There were a handful of businesses hit, but the majority of the crimes took place against individuals in parking lots.
Patricia Al-Sharif knows her regulars. And, in her years behind the counter, she has learned to spot danger.
"I knew I was in trouble when he wouldn't look up," she says of the suspect who robbed her business. "I said can I help you find something? And, he flexed his hands and I went like, there you go."
After picking up a soda, the robber pulled a gun on Patricia.
"You know the drill, give me your money, put it in a paper bag. And, I pulled it all out, put it in a paper bag and let him go."
That was just one of the robberies that kept police busy over the long holiday weekend. The numbers are higher than a typical month.
"We are dealing with a large number of stranger robberies," says Sergeant Dave Walker. "Some businesses got hit and the officers did a great job of putting a lot of the people in jail."
Walker credits quick-thinking victims for the arrests. He says they called police quickly with detailed descriptions.
Carol Bush with the Crime Commission says keeping your calm during a robbery is difficult, but being observant can help police get the suspect off the streets.
"A lot of times people are so afraid they forget the details," Bush says. "The more info you can give the police, the faster, the better the chance they'll catch the criminal."
Patricia can be a lesson for us all. She says she wasn't shocked and didn't get flustered. She called police and described the getaway van. The suspect in her robbery was caught after police say he tried to hit another store in the same night.
"People like that don't need to be out," Patricia says.
Police say they have made nine arrests in connection with the string of robberies. But, they say some are still out there, especially those preying on people in parking lots.
The Crime Commission gives us this tip -- play the 'what if' game. Think through possible scenarios and come up with a safety plan. The more you practice, the better off you'll be if and when it happens to you.
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