Burglaries, attempted break-ins at Lancaster County bars cause $4,000 in damage

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Authorities are investigating a series of attempted break-ins and burglaries in southern Lancaster County.

Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said someone tried breaking into the Denton Daily Double and a nearby Super C in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

Just before that, a person broke into Station Bar in Hallam and Sprague Traditions Pub.

A cash register that had $300 inside was stolen from the bar in Sprague.

The owner of the bar, Alina Houk, said in more than 20 years of working there, no one has ever broken in.

She said bars and restaurants are already struggling after COVID-19, especially in small towns.

“I feel that’s one of the reasons he’s doing it is there isn’t police presence a minute away,” Houk said. “So I think that’s a little bit better target. But my neighbors are right next door, and when they hear that alarm, they come out with their shotguns.”

Houchin said the burglar caused $2,500 in damage to a skill game at the Station Bar.

The bar was also burglarized last month when someone stole $700 from a skill game.

“We do believe that these crimes are related, and we are having extra patrol in these areas to try to combat these burglaries,” Houchin said.

The burglaries have caused a total of $4,000 in damage, and $1,000 in cash has been stolen, according to Houchin.