Man assaulted employee after stealing items from Lincoln grocery store, police say

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Police are seeking a thief who assaulted an employee at an east Lincoln grocery store last week.

It happened on April 5 around 8:30 p.m. at Russ’s Market near 66th and O streets.

Police said an employee spotted a man leaving the store with a handful of groceries.

The employee asked the man if he had a receipt — but he ignored her, according to LPD.

When she asked again, the man dropped the groceries and charged, knocking the employee to the ground.

He picked up the groceries and took off.

Police said that due to the man assaulting the employee, the case has been escalated from a shoplifting to a felony robbery charge.

Investigators are also searching for a man who assaulted a woman at a gas station near 27th and F streets on March 18.

A woman was trying to get the speakers in her car to work in the parking lot.

The speakers eventually turned back on at full volume, and a man became “visibly” upset, according to police.

The man hit her in the face with his phone and threatened to assault her again, police said.  He then left on a bicycle.

Anyone with information on either case is asked to call police at 402-441-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 402-475-3600.