Lawton Family Captures Van Theft on Camera

LAWTON Okla: A Lawton family is asking for the public's help in finding the people who stole their van right out of their driveway early Thursday morning.

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Matthew Eccles said his home security camera caught the thieves in the act. He said he's not sure how they did it, because they still have both sets of keys.

On a day supposed to be filled with pride, loyalty, and unity, Independence Day, the Eccles family dealt with inconvenience, frustration and maybe even a little betrayal. Matthew Eccles said he and his wife came outside Thursday morning to get the day started, when they noticed their vehicle had been stolen right out of their own driveway. He said he rushed back inside to check the security footage, and he saw it. Somebody hopped in his van and backed it right out of the driveway.

Eccles said while he's upset his van is gone, he's glad he could capture the act.

"Without the camera, we wouldn't know who, we wouldn't know what time, we wouldn't know if there was another person, we wouldn't know anything except it's gone," Eccles said. "We wouldn't have any information to give to the police."

The security cameras capture all activity around his house and even some across the street. About 1:50AM, the cameras begin to show two males going house-to-house, rummaging through the neighbors' cars. Then, one of them walks up the Eccles' driveway.

"You can definitely tell that he's a younger kid," Eccles said. "He's probably in his late teens or very early 20's. It looked like he had a tattoo on his left forearm. He had on an American Eagle T-shirt with a baseball cap."

You can see him going through things inside the van, being sure to keep an eye on the home's front door. He even makes away with some type of bag, before going around to the driver's seat and getting behind the wheel. His accomplice then joins him, and they drive off the street.

Eccles said it's frustrating to have something you've earned taken from you.

"I want my car back, and people need to know we work hard for what we have," Eccles said. "Whether it was a joy ride or whatever, he needs to be taught a lesson. Everybody works hard for what they have, and he needs to do the same."

Eccles said he's thankful he and his wife decided to install these cameras. He recommends everyone install cameras, because without them, you run the risk of being burglarized and left without a clue as to who did it.

"Whether you live in Cache, Elgin, Fletcher, Lawton, it's always good to have a security camera, because you just never know."

Eccles said his van is a bronze-colored 2009 Honda Odyssey with a Fort Sill sticker on the front window and a firefighter decal on the back. If you see a vehicle matching this description, contact police.