Groups Of Young Teens Robbing Individuals At Gunpoint

[harmonic]

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0807/446586.html

Tulsa, OK - Tulsa police want to put an end to what seems to be a scary trend -- different groups of teenagers robbing people at gunpoint. Police have worked ten cases in the past three weeks, and they've happened all over town.

Shawn Edwards is one of the victims. He was sitting in his car early Wednesday morning when a teenager came up and robbed him.

"They walked up and said 'Hey, do you know what I want? I'm like no, what do you want? And he goes are you going to give it to me' and put a gun right in my face in between my eyes."

The teen took Shawn's wallet and walked away. Shawn wasn't shaken up but he was angry.

"To me, it's ridiculous kids are doing that," he says. "What happened to he old fashioned values if I want something I will work for it?"

The crime also surprises police. Detectives say in the past few weeks, teenagers as young as 12 have been holding people up at gunpoint.

"It's baffling to me as to why these kids are driving around that late at night with guns, thinking it's okay to stick a gun in someone's face and take their stuff," says Sergeant Dave Walker.

"Why are they out this late at night for one thing and two, why does a kid this age have a gun?"

Those are all questions police are trying to answer. The teens hit parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, pretty much anywhere where they see someone out.

"I don't know if it's a trend in our youth today to think it's cool to rob somebody. If it's street credibility but what these children need to know is you go to prison for a very long time."

Shawn got lucky and found his wallet laying in the street, all his credit cards were still there. But, his attackers are still out there.

"I hope they catch the kids and put them in jail for awhile," he says.

Police say all the suspects are young men. They have names for one of the groups. If you have any information, you are asked to call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS.

 

[harmonic]

have names for one of the groups.

If they're referring to a "gang" why don't they just say so?

 

[kurtmax]

These kids are bound to rob somebody that's packing sometime. It's gonna be more than 'in jail for awhile'. If anyone gets killed. It's murder for the whole bunch....

 

[harmonic]

When I was 12 it was pushing the envelope to rub soap on somebody's windows at halloween.

Times sure have changed.

 

[ognnosnim]

I hope they get what is coming to them.

 

[lacoochee]

Police say all the suspects are young men. They have names for one of the groups. If you have any information, you are asked to call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS.

Wow, that's a big help!!! Anyone that sees a group of young men, please call crime stoppers...there is a lot unsaid in this article.

 

[crankshop1000]

These things have a way of ending badly.The "kids" will stick a gun into the wrong face and get waxed.Or they will kill someone themselves and become a top priority for law enforcement.

 

[Deanimator]

These kids are bound to rob somebody that's packing sometime. It's gonna be more than 'in jail for awhile'. If anyone gets killed. It's murder for the whole bunch....

Happened here in NE Ohio a few months ago. A little numbskull and his pal tried to rob a guy on his own front lawn. Numbskull #1 is now room temperature. Numbskull #2 will probably get done for felony murder, maybe the death penalty.

Numbskull #1's family and "friends" were genuinely shocked to discover that there was virtually no sympathy for him in the community.

Take it from the late Arthur Buford, in Ohio at least, armed robbery is now also dangerous for the ROBBER.

 

[kurtmax]

Numbskull #1's family and "friends" were genuinely shocked to discover that there was virtually no sympathy for him in the community.

Really? Most of the time the news spins it around to something like: "Teenager gunned down in neighborhood".

And follows it up with a bunch of friends and family saying how horrible it is, and how guns should be illegal. The footnote mentions something about him robbing someone at the time of his death....

 

[slabuda]

When I was 12 it was pushing the envelope to rub soap on somebody's windows at halloween.

Times sure have changed.

Yea no kidding. And if you did and got caught it was the belt too!!

 

[Caimlas]

Looks like those kids have a Death Wish to me...

I imagine this already is a top priority for the police, given that this kind of thing is likely to escalate to more severe crime, and not jumping on this looks really, really bad for the ability of the PD.

 

[0007]

let's see, no mention of racial characteristics or descriptions there. Any bets?

 

[Dave_in_GA]

Quote:
"They have names for one of the groups.

If they're referring to a "gang" why don't they just say so?"


A lot of local Police Departments use this wording.

It's a method of denial that there really IS a gang problem in their jurisdiction.

The problem is, when one of these delinquents gets killed during their game, the PC's will have a field day about "the poor teenager that got killed " .

 

[Rustynuts]

I don't like to discriminate. There's plenty of trash that comes in ALL colors.

 

[ceetee]

"It's baffling to me as to why these kids are driving around that late at night with guns, thinking it's okay to stick a gun in someone's face and take their stuff," says Sergeant Dave Walker.

Humpf. They do it because they can. Because they get away with it. The prevailing attitude among every strong-armed robber I've ever spoken with is "If you're a man, you won't let me take what's yours. And if you do let me take it away from you, then you don't deserve top keep it."

I just hope that the when they finally do run up on an armed victim, the victim isn't also hurt in defending him or her self.

 

[Kevin108]

I'm seeing more and more reports about groups of attackers committing these types of crimes. It shies me away from carrying a gun with 8 or 9 rounds and back towards carrying one with 11-18 rounds.

 

[Nomad101bc]

With stuff like this happening in even good ole Okie makes me think when i am old enough to CCL ill need to have atleast 2 other mags in a .40 S&W. A pump action 12 gauge with buckshot would not be a bad idea either!

"You know what I want" to which i would state "a face full of buckshot?"

 

[another okie]

When they have a gun in your face it's too late. Be aware. Or just be home by midnight.

Great publicity for Tulsa with the PGA going on there. I hope some tour pro doesn't get robbed or shot.

The Tulsa police and sheriff were very slow to respond to the gang problem there, and now it's out of control. It's too bad, because it is a beautiful city, but white flight is starting to occur big time due to the failure to control crime.

 

[Walkalong]

"They have names for one of the groups.

If they're referring to a "gang" why don't they just say so?"


A lot of local Police Departments use this wording.

It's a method of denial that there really IS a gang problem in their jurisdiction.

That is our town to a tee. They are in serious denial that we have a "gang/thug" problem. The home invasions started not long ago. Now we are not even safe at home here. It is always the same sort of folks doing it. I am just about ready to move and let the trash and those still in denial have the whole place.

 

[zoom6zoom]

what these children need to know is you go to prison for a very long time

That's just the problem - they know they WONT. Probation, maybe. After all, they're "just children".

 

[Nomad101bc]

It all comes down to needing to spend more on prisions so they can serve thier sentances and enforce a three strikes policy. The state needs to not spend 400k per family trying to "rehabilitate" people because we have seen these costly programs show zero success and just waste our tax dollars.

 

[kurtmax]

It all comes down to needing to spend more on prisions so they can serve thier sentances and enforce a three strikes policy. The state needs to not spend 400k per family trying to "rehabilitate" people because we have seen these costly programs show zero success and just waste our tax dollars.

How about not spending more on prisons, and eliminating jail time for victimless crimes... cheap and effective.

 

[Nomad101bc]

No i was suggesting siphoning money from these failing reform programs and using it instead on the only gurantee which is prision to keep you out of good society.

 

[harmonic]

Great publicity for Tulsa with the PGA going on there. I hope some tour pro doesn't get robbed or shot.

Some of the articles I've been reading indicate this might be the last tourney in Tulsa because of the heat. Something like nine people were taken to the hospital via ambulance from heat stroke.

I'm outside doing yard work and can hit the shade when I need to. The people at the tourney are stuck.

 

[Cosmoline]

These kids are bound to rob somebody that's packing sometime.

That's what happened up here with the Samoans last summer. They were going around the hood attacking people and beating them until one of their targets shot two of them. This summer has been a lot more quiet.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/7917063p-7810566c.html

James Ifopo, 17, died after a single bullet hit him in the chest, authorities and witnesses said. A 16-year-old boy was also shot after the three youths -- all of them on bicycles, according to witnesses -- rode up to the man.