Lincoln police say string of recent car break-ins are targeting fitness centers

A recent uptick in car break-ins have police on high alert.

According to Lincoln Police, there has been at least five “smash and grab” style thefts from cars that were broken into, including one Friday morning.

Authorities want to warn the public that the thieves are still at large.

Three separate fitness centers were hit, including Good Life Fitness on 84th and Highway 2.

A woman was working-out when she saw a notification on her phone saying her credit card was used. She went outside to find her car windows smashed in and her pursue stolen.

“They are looking, and just kind of walking through, looking for purses that are left on seats. It’s really quick and really fast. Today, I was visiting with a police officer about it and the one thing he mentioned was that it’s ten seconds. It’s quick, it’s fast and they are gone,” said Steve Auxier, Owner of Good Life Fitness.

The other reported thefts happened at the SNAP Fitness on 49th and Old Cheney and at Prairie Life Fitness by 70th and “A” streets.

In all five cases, car windows were smashed by an unknown object, and personal belongings including purses and wallets were taken.

Authorities are now reviewing surveillance footage to track down the thieves.

The suspect’s description from the car break in Friday morning was a lighter skin black male in his 40s or 50s, heavier set, wearing a black stocking cap, blue shirt and a black jacket.

He was driving a mid 2000s Chevy Impala with no license plate.

“One thing that we always try to tell our members, with the weather turning a little bit nicer, just take those extra precautionary steps and don’t leave those purses on your front seat to invite somebody towards your car,” said Auxier.

Lincoln police is continuing to investigate.

They say they don’t know yet if the string of break-ins are related.

If you know anything about the break–ins or see suspicious activity, call police right away.