LPD: Illinois man rammed fence at LES service center with stolen van

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – An Illinois man was arrested Sunday after he rammed a fence at a Lincoln service center with a stolen van, police say.

Around 1:15 a.m., officers were sent to the Lincoln Electric System’s service center near 27th and Fairfield streets on a report of a stolen vehicle.

Witnesses told officers a man, later identified as 23-year-old Gavin Blume of Illinois, jumped the fence and got into an LES work van.

Police said Blume rammed through the automatic fence at the parking lot’s entrance, causing about $15,000 in damage.

The vehicle had been left unlocked with the keys inside, according to police.

About 15 minutes later, officers found Blume inside the van in a parking lot near 14th Street and Old Cheney Road.

He was arrested on suspicion of felony theft and felony criminal mischief.