Tulsa, OK — A burglary suspect was arrested after allegedly breaking into a Dollar General store and leaving behind a cell phone that helped officers identify him, according to the Tulsa Police Department.
Officers with the Mingo Valley Division responded early Sunday, May 3, 2026, at approximately 3:49 a.m. to a burglary in progress at a store near 31st Street and Mingo Road.
Investigators said a security company monitoring live surveillance footage observed a suspect using a pickaxe to break through the front glass before entering the store and taking items from behind the counter. The suspect then fled the scene heading east.
According to police, the suspect later returned briefly in an attempt to locate a cell phone he had dropped during the break-in.
Officers later located a man matching the suspect’s description walking along 31st Street. When he saw patrol units, he fled on foot but was quickly detained by officers nearby.
Police said the stolen items were not found on the suspect at the time of arrest. Officers later tracked his movements and located the stolen property hidden near the building, along with additional evidence.
A search of the area also led officers to the dropped cell phone, which contained a selfie of the suspect on the lock screen, helping confirm his identity, according to authorities.
The suspect, identified as David Lynn Harp, was arrested and transported to the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center on a charge of burglary in the first degree.
Officials emphasized the case is an arrest and not a conviction.