Thieves targeted several vehicles that were left unlocked and running over a two hour period Tuesday evening. LPD Captain Todd Kocian says around 4:30 a man was inside the ACE Hardware store near 27th and Randolph Streets. He said someone stole his 2012 Acura and crashed it into a 1997 Ford pickup before running away. The investigation showed the VW Jetta the suspect arrived in had been stolen earlier in the day after it was left running to warm up.
Around 5:20 p.m. officers were called to the Pho Factory restaurant near 26th and “W” Streets on reports of another vehicle theft. Kocian says the 38-year-old driver left the vehicle running while his three children and their grandmother remained in the backseat. Two masked men hopped into the vehicle and not realizing anyone was inside.
“As they started to drive away the grandmother yelled at them, which caused them to be startled and crash into the building,” Kocian says. The pair ran away and damage to building was estimated at $8,000.
The third stolen vehicle incident happened around 6:30 at SJ’s Smoke Shop near 31st and O Streets. Kocian says the 31-year-old victim said he left a red 2015 Chrysler 200 with Nebraska license plate UNF955 running in the parking lot while he went inside. While in the store he saw someone take the vehicle. Another customer told police they saw three teenage boys in the parking lot wearing dark hoodies. One of them got in the vehicle and left eastbound on ‘O’ Street.
At approximately 7:20 p.m. Tuesday the stolen VW was found unoccupied near 30th & Apple. Kocian is stressing the importance of not leaving your vehicle running and unattended. “Everybody that was involved in these incidents where their vehicles were left running and unlocked their vehicles sustained damaged, so that’s an added inconvenience.”
The investigations are ongoing and police are asking anyone with information to contact the Lincoln Police Department at 402-441-6000 or if they wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 402-475-3600.