Nichols Hills police are searching for a suspect after a string of vehicle break-ins and an attempted residential burglary rattled the city's southeast side early Sunday morning. The incidents unfolded sometime between 3 and 5 a.m., and investigators say every vehicle targeted had one thing in common: none of them were locked.
According to KFOR, Nichols Hills police are asking anyone with information about the break-ins or the attempted burglary to come forward. The outlet reported that officers confirmed every targeted vehicle had been left unlocked, a detail that's become something of a recurring theme in this small, affluent city tucked inside Oklahoma City.
A Familiar Pattern for Nichols Hills Police
This isn't the first time Nichols Hills has dealt with a rash of unlocked-vehicle burglaries. The department's report notes that nine vehicles were broken into on Westminster Avenue in a single night during a previous spree. Multiple car break-ins also occurred in nearby The Village, where approximately $3,000 in property was stolen.
Nichols Hills Police Chief Steven Cox has pointed to a broader pattern behind these sprees. The department's report quotes Cox saying the city sees a rash of vehicle burglaries two to three times a year, with about 90 percent of the vehicles hit left unlocked and valuables sitting in plain sight.
Nichols Hills continues to monitor crime trends.
Losses Reported to Police Remain Unclear
Whether anything was stolen during Sunday's incidents on the city's southeast side remains unclear.
The nearby Oklahoma City Police Department's annual report recorded 586 guns stolen from vehicles in 2023: 329 were taken from unlocked vehicles, while 257 were taken from locked ones. The figures show that leaving a car unlocked was common in those thefts, but not a prerequisite. Oklahoma City’s 2023 annual report provides the breakdown.
For now, the case remains open, with investigators relying on tips from residents who may have noticed anything unusual in the early morning hours. Anyone with information has been asked to contact Nichols Hills police directly as the investigation continues.
