WATCH: Break-in at Lincoln vape shop; Husker football player arrested

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska tight end Arik Gilbert is accused of burglarizing a Lincoln vape shop.

The Lincoln Police Department said this happened at SJ’s Liquor and Vape Shop at 27th and O streets just before 2 a.m. Tuesday.

LPD said he smashed his way inside with large cement chunks.

Officers said they spotted the 21-year-old heading to the exit while carrying a bag full of vape and smoke products.

They said the stolen items totaled more than $1,672.

Police said damage to the business was about $650, but owner Sadeer “SJ” Ali said it could cost closer to $2,000 to fix the two doors that were broken.

“We’re a small business,” he said. “We’re a family-owned business, and to be honest, this isn’t something that’s easy to be fixed. This business feeds our family, this business feeds my employees. So it just sucks that this had to happen ’cause now everybody is on pause.”

Ali said this location has been open for three months, but he has several other vape shops that he’s been running for about six years.

He said he’s dealt with break-ins before at the other shops but was still surprised at how the burglary went down.

“I looked back at the footage, and I seen him going through the front door, putting his face on the camera,” Ali said. “And then he took off his shirt and put it on his face, and then came in like we didn’t just see his face on the camera. Yeah, probably one of the most dumbest thieves that’s out there.”

Gilbert was charged with burglary, a Class IIA felony. He could spend up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

At a court hearing Tuesday afternoon, he said wanted to represent himself, but Judge Thomas Zimmerman insisted that he have a public defender.

Zimmerman set Gilbert’s bond at $5,000. He must pay 10% of that, $500, to be released.

His next court appearance is Sept. 27 at 9 a.m.

Gilbert transferred from Georgia and has been waiting on the NCAA to grant him a waiver to play for Nebraska this season.

At a press conference, Husker head coach Matt Rhule said he’s “sad and disappointed.”

“During camp, he’s had some struggles,” Rhule said. “He’s working to overcome them. We have a great group of people here trying to help him, and then obviously last night happened.”