A Lincoln teen is arrested for multiple vehicle thefts and other crimes.
Lincoln Police Officer Erin Spilker says police were called to Midwest Medical Transport Company in the 3300 block of O St around 5 PM Friday after an employee reported one of the company’s SUVs was stolen.
“The employee, a 27-year-old male, reported that while he was loading the vehicle up the keys were left in the ignition,” said Spilker. “When he came back, he noticed the vehicle had been taken.”
Using the SUV’s onboard GPS, the employee was able to track and catch up with it in the area of 48th and Holdrege and provided police a description of the driver.
Officers received live updates of the vehicle’s location, but the suspect continued to evade them.
Eventually, the SUV was tracked to the 100 block of North 29th St where officers observed the 17-year-old suspect fleeing down a bike path.
“Officers chased the male, and as he tried to climb a fence, officers were able to catch up to him and tackle him,” said Spilker.
The suspect was arrested for vehicle theft, another auto theft reported March 30th, attempted assault on an officer, flee to avoid arrest and an outstanding juvenile warrant.
He was referred to the Youth Assessment Center.
A UV decontamination boxed used to decontaminate face masks was in the SUV when it was stolen and is still missing.
The decontamination box was loaned to Midwest Medical to assist in the fight against COVID-19.