Broken Arrow Police On The Lookout For Holiday Shopping Thieves

Police in Tulsa and several suburbs have stepped up their holiday patrols to keep crime down during the holiday season. 

For the Broken Arrow Police Department, they believe their efforts are working because was a quiet start on Black Friday for them, even though the stores in the community were packed with shoppers. 

A portable observation tower is one of the tools that Broken Arrow Police use during the busiest shopping times. The tower - which was surplus from the U.S. Border Patrol - can go up 25 feet and give them a 360-degree view of what's happening. 

An officer can sit above the parking lot and watch for trouble - or maybe just give that impression. 

"It's here as a deterrent, whether the platform is up or down, you don't know if an officer is in it, and it's a reminder that the police are watching," said Broken Arrow Police Sgt. Ed Ferguson. 

On the day before Thanksgiving Day, the Broken Arrow Police Department added officers, including reserves, to their usual patrols. Police said they are working the busy shopping centers and the busy times, but police encourage shoppers to watch out for themselves.

"Just take that extra moment to make sure your things are secure and even if you're only going in for 5 minutes, take your stuff in, and be a little more proactive, especially this time of year," said Broken Arrow Police Sgt. Thomas Cooper. 

Police say Bass Pro Shops was one Broken Arrow's busiest spots late in the day on Thanksgiving Day and especially on the day after, Black Friday morning.

"The day has been fantastic, customers have been great, business is good, we don't know yet what our day will end up like, but things look really good so far, traffic has been phenomenal," said Broken Arrow Bass Pro Shops manager Mike McClure. 

Jason and Charla Daily drove halfway across the state to shop in Broken Arrow at Target, Walmart and Bass Pro Shops.

"The shopping has been nuts this year, lots of people, lots of fun, we found some good deals," said Jason Daily. 

Broken Arrow Police say the patrols will continue on and off through the remainder of the holiday season.