Man caught wearing victim’s clothes following burglary in southwest Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A Lincoln man was arrested on Sunday after police say he broke into a business and stole the owner’s pickup truck.

Just before 8:30 a.m., officers with the Lincoln Police Department were sent to the area of Van Dorn Street and Nebraska Parkway.

The victim, a 43-year-old Lincoln man, said his business had been broken into and his vehicle stolen.

LPD said the person responsible had pried open a key box, removed the door key and gone inside.

The suspect drank two bottles of liquor from inside the business and left keys behind that did not belong to the suspect or the victim, LPD said.

LPD said video footage showed the suspect setting that vehicle on fire before stealing the victim’s pickup truck, his clothes inside the pickup, a bag of change and the front door key to the building.

Officers identified the suspect as 47-year-old Joshua Watkins.

Police said he was arrested during an unrelated call for service and was found with the business key in his pocket, the bag of change and wearing the victim’s clothes.

LPD said the 2001 Ford F250 pickup, valued at $8,000, is still missing.

Watkins was lodged in the Lancaster County Jail on suspicion of burglary, theft and auto theft.