Police Investigating Serial Smash-And-Grab Burglaries Across Green Country

Tulsa Police say that after making an arrest in a big smash-and-grab burglary investigation earlier this week, they've already received calls about more similar cases.

Investigators arrested Michael McCalister Tuesday, who they say has stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cigarettes and liquor across Green Country in the last year. After our story aired Tuesday night about McCalister’s arrest, police say they got calls from other agencies and believe the same thieves hit stores in Oilton, Drumright, Olive, and another in Tulsa.

Related: Police Arrest Suspect Accused Of Breaking Into Stores, Stealing Cigarettes And Liquor

Detectives say in all of the cases, the thieves used the same car, brought their own trash cans and landscaping rock to break the glass, and were in and out of the stores in just minutes stealing thousands worth of cigarettes. Tulsa Police say after McCalister’s arrest this week, they got calls about four other burglaries in Oilton, Drumright, Olive, and Tulsa that looked the exact same.

The owner of the Olive convenience store says the thieves stole eight thousand dollars worth of cigarettes from her store in March. She says they pulled up in a Gray Jeep, had their own trash can, and smashed out her front door with a rock. Investigators say in this case, the thieves left a phone behind.

Tulsa Police say in another case, the thieves used the exact same MO to break into this EZ Mart in Tulsa, but police say the cigarettes were in a locked room, so the thieves left with nothing. Investigators say serial thieves like this take a major toll on businesses.

“We target serial burglars because those are the ones causing us the most crime, the people that are doing it once, they are going to do it once. This guy here, he continually does it. Could be up to 25 or 30,” said Lieutenant Tim Means with Tulsa Police.

Police say they are still looking for the other people involved in the burglaries. They encourage any other possible victims to call Tulsa Police.