See an up-to-date map of the outages in the Tulsa metro area.

Police warn of increase in burglaries

About 169,000 homes and businesses in the Tulsa metro area remained without power Wednesday as thieves took advantage of the darkness.

As many as 70 burglary cases have been assigned to detectives since Monday. The good news is that officers have made about 16 burglary arrests.

Police Chief Ron Palmer said double the number of officers -- as many as 122 -- are patrolling the streets at night to thwart criminal activity.

"Unfortunately, some people are making a bad situation even worse," he said.

"This is something that was anticipated, so we have tried to be as proactive as possible."

The ice storm, which struck Sunday, is being blamed for at least 21 deaths statewide, including a total of four fire fatalities Wednesday in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

American Electric Power-Public Service Company of Oklahoma has cut the number of outages in the Tulsa metro area from a peak of about 246,000 to 169,294.

That number is expected to drop significantly from Wednesday night to Thursday morning, said Preston Kissman, AEP-PSO's vice president of distribution.

"We are out in full force," he said, noting that thousands of line workers have been brought in from all over the country.

The time frame to

"The working conditions are terrible," Kissman said. "Being in all of the rain and the mud, it's been a slow process."

Residents should not worry about power lines that are draped across their homes but need to report them, he said. The lines will be secured before they go live.

Tulsa's Mohawk Water Treatment Plant remained without electricity Wednesday.

Output has been increased at the city's other plant, A.B. Jewell, and residents should try to conserve water. The single plant is capable of producing enough safe, treated water to meet demands, officials said.

"This is the time of the year that we have fairly low water usage, so our other plant has been able to meet the load," Public Works Department Director Charles Hardt said.

"We are not in crisis mode but are asking that people use water in a reasonable manner."

Oklahoma Gas & Electric is still reporting 186,290 outages systemwide, most of which are concentrated in the Oklahoma City metro area, but some are as close as Sapulpa and Bristow.

In Oklahoma City, Gov. Brad Henry, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management Director Albert Ashwood toured a neighborhood with downed power lines and streets and yards littered with tree limbs.

Henry said that local, state and federal officials are doing everything they can to respond to the storm.

"Help is on the way," Henry said at a press conference before the tour began. "Please be patient."

Statewide, about a half million homes and businesses remained without power in the biggest blackout in state history.

Teams will be assessing damages as the state prepares to seek federal assistance for local governments and individuals, officials said.

Henry said weather permitting, he expects to take a look at damages in the Tulsa area on Thursday.

Mayor Kathy Taylor said she has been in contact with state officials to try to get the federal government to declare Oklahoma a disaster area.

That would provide financial assistance to affected individuals and businesses.

"We're trying to get a handle on the individual impact to qualify for that disaster declaration," she said.

Taylor said the cost to Tulsa's government should "far exceed" the $2.5 million the city spent on the winter storm in January.

President Bush on Tuesday declared Oklahoma to be in a state of emergency, which allows for federal assistance to supplement state, county and city responses.

Burglary reports are expected to spike once people begin returning to their homes from shelters, Palmer said.

"We saw activity like this in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," he said. "It's disappointing to see but certainly not surprising."

Authorities said they intend to make use of a state law that beefs up the penalties for crimes committed during a state of emergency.

The statute also will allow those age 16 or over to be prosecuted as adults.

Palmer also said the city's curfew for those under 18 is being strictly enforced.

The curfew is 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and children have to be in by midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. The curfew lifts at 6 a.m. and carries the exception of being accompanied by a parent.

"Citizens should expect that if they are spotted coming out of a shopping center or a neighborhood that is dark, they may be stopped by police officers," Palmer said.

"If you have a legitimate reason for being there, you will be fine, but if we find you with burglary tools or any evidence of looting, you can expect to be detained."

Detectives in unmarked cars are parking in areas hit hardest by the storm so they can react when they see potential suspects, said Police Sgt. Greg Mathews, supervisor of the burglary unit.

During an attempted burglary about 7 p.m. Tuesday, a man shot a 16-year-old intruder who broke into his powerless apartment. The teen was not seriously injured.

Firefighters have been busy with more than 120 structural fires since the storm began, Fire Capt. Larry Bowles said.

"At first, the majority were due to electrical problems, but Tuesday and Wednesday, what we've been seeing are fires related to alternative heating sources," he said.

Bowles urged citizens to be wary of unattended candles and trying to use a fireplace to heat an entire house.

Carbon monoxide poisoning also has been prevalent because people have brought their power generators into their homes or are using gas stoves for heat, he said.

More than 60 patients have been treated for carbon monoxide since Monday evening.

"We want people to really think about the risks they are posing to themselves, their families and neighbors," Bowles said. "It's much safer to seek warmth at one of the shelters."

The American Red Cross has set up three shelters in Tulsa and 15 more in the surrounding region.

A total of 1,800 people spent Tuesday night at one of the 18 shelters.

Signalized intersections without power total 100, including 60 in downtown alone, according to a Public Works survey.

Four-way stop signs have been placed at most, but not all of the intersections because of a sign shortage.

Motorists should stop at all uncontrolled junctions.

Tulsa Public Schools and most other districts have canceled classes for the rest of the week.

The Tulsa-area forecast

Thursday: Mostly sunny, high 46.
Friday: Slight chance of rain and snow showers before noon, then 60 percent chance of rain, high 41.
Saturday: 60 percent chance of snow, high 34.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, high 39.
Monday: Mostly sunny, high 43.
Tuesday: Chance of rain, high 49.
Wednesday: Cloudy, high 52.

Outages:

Number of customers without power, as of Wednesday night:

Tulsa metro (includes Broken Arrow, Sand Springs and Owasso): 169,294

Oklahoma City metro: 166,779

Bartlesville: 500 (includes Nowata, Oologah and Ramona)

Bixby: 1,339

Bristow: 3,304

Chouteau: 1,198

Grove: 119

Sapulpa: 6,698

Vinita: 4,168 (includes Chelsea)

Craig, Delaware, Mayes and Ottawa counties: 9,700

Source: Utilities, Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

Where to call:

Report downed tree limbs or schedule debris collection: Mayor’s Action Center at 596-2100.

Report power outages: AEP-PSO at (888) 218-3919.

Nonemergency assistance: The Community Service Council at (800) 494-0275 or 211.

World staff writers Nicole Marshall, Barbara Hoberock and Clifton Adcock contributed to this story.

Brian Barber 581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com