Lincoln residents on alert for garage burglaries

LPD says there have been at least 24 garage burglaries in southeast Lincoln this year, compared to 30 in all of 2020.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Lincoln Police Department is asking residents to keep their garage closed and locked.

From 2019 to 2020, LPD reports there was an 173% increase of garage burglaries in apartment complexes in southeast Lincoln. Lincoln residents are on alert.

“I keep it locked and secured,” Lincoln resident Leonard Hudgins said. “We have a lot of people out here that work out of their garages and they look out for everybody’s garage.”

After 30 total garage burglaries in 2020, there have been at least 24 garage burglaries in southeast Lincoln, with items like power tools and recreational equipment being commonly targeted.

Channel 8 spoke with several apartment complex managers declined to be on camera to discuss the increase in garage burglaries in parts of the city. Some mentioned email reminders, heavily lighted areas, and surveillance cameras as things they are doing to curb the trend of garage break-ins.

“At night, there’s nobody out here,” Hodgins said. “Best thing I can do is just keep it locked.”