Lincoln Police say a man did everything he could to get his stolen SUV back after it was taken from the Super C store at 501 West A Street just before 9:00 Tuesday night.
Sergeant Chris Vollmer says the 31 year old victim parked his Ford Escape next to a fuel pump and went into the store. He told officers the vehicle was off, but the keys were still in the ignition.
While in the store, the man saw his vehicle driving away from the pump. Vollmer says the man ran out of the store and was able to catch up to his vehicle as it traveled down the dead-end street near SW 6th & W B Street. “The driver’s window was partially ajar, and the victim held onto the vehicle as it accelerated westbound on W. B Street.”
He said the driver was a woman in her 20’s. “The victim continued attempts to take control of the steering wheel.” The man estimated speeds approached 25-30mph while he held onto the outside of his SUV.
Vollmer says the man let go of the vehicle as it approached a Ford T-350 van parked in the lot of 1245 S. Folsom. The Escape collided with the van and stalled. “The victim removed the female from his car by her sweatshirt,” Vollmer says. “She fled southbound and was not located.”
The damage to the parked van is estimated at $8,000. The damaged Escape was valued at $1,800. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Lincoln Police at 402-441-6000 or Lincoln Crime Stoppers at 402-475-3600.