Lincoln Police Search for Man Accused of Stealing Vehicles from Auto Shop to Sell Parts

LINCOLN, Nebraska — The Lincoln Police Department is seeking the public's help in identifying a man who allegedly sneaked into a local auto repair facility, stole several vehicles, and stripped them down to sell their individual parts. The thefts occurred over a period of several days before shop employees noticed the missing inventory and alerted authorities on November 12, 2025.

According to police reports, the suspect managed to slip into the auto shop during business hours, targeting vehicles that were parked in the rear lot awaiting repair or parts delivery. Using keys that were temporarily left inside or retrieved from the shop's staging area, the suspect drove the vehicles off the lot unnoticed.

Vehicles Stripped for Parts

Investigators later located two of the stolen vehicles in a remote area on the outskirts of Lincoln. Both cars had been heavily stripped, with key components such as engines, catalytic converters, body panels, and wheels removed. Evidence suggests the suspect was selling the parts online and to local scrap yards.

Surveillance cameras captured images of the suspect, described as a white male in his late 20s or early 30s, wearing a dark cap and a heavy jacket. Police have released these images to the public in hopes of generating leads.

“This is a sophisticated operation where the suspect took advantage of a busy shop environment to pilfer customer vehicles,” said Officer Sarah Jenkins. “We are advising all local auto repair shops to secure vehicle keys and monitor their parking lots closely.”

The shop owner expressed frustration over the security breach, stating that they are working with their insurance provider to compensate the affected customers. Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect or the location of the stolen parts is urged to call the Lincoln Police Department at 402-441-6000 or Lincoln Crime Stoppers at 402-475-3600.