Two Kearney homeowners thwarted would-be thief, police say

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Police say two quick-thinking Kearney residents put a stop to a would-be vehicle thief Tuesday.

About noon, a suspicious man was hiding under vehicles in the Walmart parking lot, according to the Kearney Police Department.

Officers searched the area but couldn’t find him, police said.

Less than an hour later, the man entered a home just east of Walmart and tried to steal the owner’s vehicle, KPD said.

But the homeowner chased him out of the house, according to police.

As the man attempted to get away, officers said he tried to steal a car from a nearby home.

But that homeowner also took matters into their own hands and pulled the man out of the car, police said.

Officers said that as they arrived, the man — 36-year-old Justin Coccorese — ran away.

A police dog found him hiding under a tree a few houses away, according to KPD.

Coccorese, a transient from the Gibbon area, was arrested on suspicion of several charges, including robbery, burglary, attempted theft and first-degree trespassing.

“This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance and cooperation in ensuring the safety and security of our neighborhoods,” Kearney Police said in a press release.