Lincoln Police are warning residents about an increase in the amount of “non-traditional” vehicles being stolen.
Non-traditional vehicles encompass a range of motorized vehicles that are not typically used for standard transportation, such as ATVs, e-bikes, motorway shopping carts, scooters, golf carts, etc.
Public Information Manager Erika Thomas provided statistics to reporters on Wednesday, showing that Lincoln has had 59 reported non-traditional auto thefts from January to July 2025. This is up from 36 reported thefts during the same time frame in 2024—marking an increase of 63.9%.
Of those 59 vehicles stolen, Thomas says 63% were left unlocked, 52% were taken from residences, and only about 17% have been recovered so far.
“We obviously want people to take as many precautions as possible to avoid becoming a victim,” Thomas reminded. She encourages residents to take the following anti-theft measures:
- Use heavy duty locks
- Chain vehicles to something solid
- Don’t leave the keys in those types of vehicles
- Store them inside or out of sight when possible
- Create a record of the vehicle’s VIN or serial numbers, so Police can better track those down if they are stolen
“So we just want to make sure that people can avoid becoming targets and take these actions so we can hopefully get these numbers down and also have fewer left unlocked,” said Thomas.
This statistical increase comes as LPD reports that standard auto thefts and attempts in the city have dropped by 36% compared to the same time frame in 2024.