DNA and embroidered backpack led police to Norfolk bank burglar, court docs say

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A Norfolk man was arrested Thursday, more than five months after police say he broke into an ATM enclosure.

Steven Simonson, 52, is facing one count of burglary.

Court documents lay out how police put the pieces together.

The burglary happened about 12:30 a.m. on July 4 at a Wells Fargo in Norfolk, according to the Norfolk Police Division.

An eyewitness captured a man on video prying open the door to the bank’s ATM enclosure.

The man went inside, but police have not said whether any money was stolen.

Officers responded when a burglar alarm went off and found a few pieces of evidence.

A detective saw blood drops on the wall of the enclosure and used swabs to get two samples, according to an arrest affidavit.

Investigators also found a stocking cap, a headlamp, a pair of mismatched work gloves, a saw and a backpack, police said.

The backpack was embroidered with the name of a business, Capstone Logistics, the affidavit says.

Police checked with the company and learned that employees can redeem performance points for the backpack.

And the company said only one employee from the Norfolk facility had ever ordered the backpack: Simonson.

Captone said he had been fired for theft, according to the affidavit.

In August, the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory reported that the blood found on the wall matched a DNA sample from Simonson.

In October, investigators collected another DNA sample from Simonson, which police said confirmed that the blood at the scene was his.

A judge issued a warrant for his arrest earlier this month.

Simonson is being held in the Madison County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

His first court appearance is set for Tuesday.