Vehicle thefts up 87% in last two months in Lincoln; shoplifting also rising
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The good news is that overall thefts are down in Lincoln, but two types have seen an increase.
Auto thefts almost doubled over the last two months, according to data from the Lincoln Police Department.
They increased 87% from Aug. 17 to Oct. 15.
In fact, 18 cars were stolen in one weekend alone in Lincoln earlier this month.
SEE ALSO: Lincoln Police Department sees spike in vehicle thefts over the weekend
So far this year, auto thefts are up 63% over the average of the previous five years.
With temperatures already dropping, it’s an ample time for vehicle thefts.
“Please do not leave your car running in the winter,” LPD Capt. Todd Kocian said. “During the winter months, we do see a lot of cars that are taken just for that simple fact is they are left running to warm up because it’s cold. No one likes to get in a cold car. But unfortunately, when you do that, you’re also making your car an easy target for someone that would like to take it.”
Winter also brings holiday shopping season. During that time, it’s important to keep yourself and your belongings safe when you’re out shopping.
“Try not to leave anything in your passenger compartment of your vehicle that you would not like to have stolen,” Kocian said. “Because again, a lot of the larceny or thefts from autos are just opportunistic crimes.”
Lincoln has also seen an uptick in shoplifting.
It has increased 21% year-to-date compared with 2022.
From Sept. 16 to Oct. 15, there were 170 reports, a 6% increase from the previous 30 days.
What can vary is the type of item stolen, with smaller items like electronics being quite popular, as they are easier to conceal.
“Electronics seem to be a hot item,” Kocian said. “And some of it has to do with what’s popular at the time and the ease at which they can be removed.”
Recently, LPD was on the lookout for a man who had stolen 11 hard drives from Best Buy near 70th and O streets.
SEE ALSO: Man stuffed 11 hard drives in clothing before leaving Lincoln Best Buy, police say
Kocian said the reason as to why there has been an uptick can be hard to pinpoint.
“They all kind of ebb and flow and vary from month to month, year to year,” he said.
Read the full city crime statistics below:
