Lincoln Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help in identifying suspects in multiple separate cases: a possibly connected string of drugstore larcenies, and the other involving a store phone stolen from the Bánhwich Café.
The first case occurred on February 21, 2024, at the CVS drugstore on 56th and Nebraska Parkway.
Video Forensics Technician for the Lincoln Police Department Becky Keller says store staff observed a woman enter the store, and attempt to pay for numerous items using an app on her phone. However, her phone ran out of battery, at which point she left the store.
Store employees say they became suspicious, so when she came back in a short time later they kept an eye on her.
The woman acted as if she was using an app to pay, and an employee attempted to help her. The items already in a bag, and when the employee turned away for a moment, she took the bag and ran out of the store.
Employees reported her leaving in a dark colored sedan with a rear license plate that was loose and hanging sideways.
A few days later, a woman reportedly did the same thing at the Walgreens location on S. 48th and Van Dorn, also leaving in a dark colored sedan. A day after that incident, the Walgreens on 48th and Huntington also reported a similar instance, the woman leaving in a dark colored sedan.
Kern says its unknown if these three cases are connected, but security camera images from each incident show the suspect(s) share a resemblance. Photos can be viewed below.
The second case took place on February 29, 2024, at the Bánhwich Café near 26th and “W” Street.
A man entered the banh mi bánh mì/bubble tea shop, and had noticed an employee leave the store’s iPhone on a stool.
The man went and sat on the stool, allegedly putting the phone into his jacket pocket.
Photos of the man can be viewed below.
If you have information on either of these cases, contact Lincoln Police at (402) 441-6000 to speak with an officer, or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers at (402) 475-3600. Alternatively, you can make an anonymous online tip through their website: lincolncrimestoppers.com
Photo and video courtesy of Lincoln Crime Stoppers.