Last week, a Broken Arrow neighborhood in Wagoner County was hit hard by burglars.
The thieves in question stole property from unlocked cars.
Broken Arrow police say in one of those cases, a victim tried to follow the suspects in his car. But the suspects opened fire on the man as they sped toward the Muskogee Turnpike from Highway 51.
In that same neighborhood near Highway 51, a couple discovered a Coach purse had been stolen from their car. The victim's husband talked to 2 Works for You under the condition we not share his name.
"We work hard. I didn't get where I am by going out and breaking into people cars through the night,” says the victim. "I go to work every day. So does everybody else in this neighborhood. We are working people. That's what we do."
In an attempt to get the purse back, the couple looked on Craigslist.
"Within a few hours it was on Craiglist,” he told 2 Works for You. "I wasn't even sure it was ours. I just handed the information over and they ran with it."
Broken Arrow Police, the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office and Tulsa police set up a sting in Tulsa where they met Justin Earles and the woman who posted the purse on Craigslist, Debbie Iler.
Broken Arrow Detective Scott Lillard says Earles brought more than just a stolen purse to the meeting, "He had a firearm on him that turned out to be stolen from Jenks."
Earles has a long rap sheet. Det. Lillard says is relieved to have him in custody on serious charges, "Obviously Justin Earles is a convicted felon. He likes stolen guns and hopefully after this last incident last Friday, he will stay behind bars for a long, long time."
Ilerer was arrested for knowingly concealing stolen property. She has bonded out of the Tulsa County jail
As of Tuesday evening, Earles remained in the Tulsa County jail on charges of knowingly concealing stolen property, being a felon in possession of a firearm after conviction, and possession of a stolen vehicle. He is on hold at the jail for transport to Wagoner County.
Sources tell 2NEWS more arrests are possible in connection with the burglary cases.
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