‘We’re going through it again’: Deja vu for Lincoln business after 2nd break-in this year

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A Lincoln woman-owned business has been hit by vandalism twice this year.

The owner of Oak Electric, Crystal Collins, said two of her business’s vans were broken into shortly after 3:30 a.m. Thursday.

“It was pretty shocking,” she said. “We got hit 96 days ago, and I feel like we’ve just barely recovered from that first time, and now we’re going through it again.”

Collins said one of the neighbors alerted police.

The Lincoln Police Department quickly arrested 42-year-old Tyler Orr on suspicion of vandalism and larceny from motor vehicle. 

Back in January, the vandalism damage was estimated at $20,000.

This time, it is unclear how much the damage cost is.

Collins said some tools taken from one of the vans were later recovered. But she said the impact goes beyond that.

“We use our vans to provide the service, we go to our costumers’ home,” Collins said. “We can’t use the vans, so the costumers are affected. They need to be rescheduled.” 

Collins said employees also suffer from the vandalism. 

“I’m forced to make the decision to either send them home unpaid, or I can pay them for their day and not recover the revenue,” she said.