Car break-ins way up, traffic count way down since outbreak of coronavirus

Authorities say there has been a nearly 100 percent increase in thefts from vehicles since the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Authorities say there has been a nearly 100 percent increase in thefts from vehicles since the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said larceny from auto reports are up 99% compared to trends from the previous five years.

Bliemeister said such crimes have cascading effects, as items such as credit cards are commonly taken in car break-ins which causes more work for investigators.

The thefts are what police call a “crime of opportunity,” meaning they’re largely preventable. Bliemeister said criminals will often check handles of a number of vehicles and find those that are unlocked.

Bliemeister said there are easy ways to cut down on the crimes, including removing valuables from vehicles and locking your doors.

“I appreciate all your efforts to make that happen,” he said.

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird also encouraged residents to lock their garages, saying her husband’s bike was recently stolen from their garage.

Gaylor Baird also said traffic counts are down approximately 40 percent across the city. She said the largest decrease in cars on the road has been in the morning commute, where traffic monitors have noticed a 45-50 percent drop. One of the highest traffic times is the lunch hour, which is still down 20 percent.

The pandemic has also allowed for major street construction projects to begin taking place across the city, Gaylor Baird said.

Bliemeister said traffic crashes and DUI citations are significantly down as well.