Kearney Police Department, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — On Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Kearney Police were dispatched to the East HWY 30 Cabela’s store for a shoplifting report.
Loss prevention staff reported that two unknown male subjects had stolen numerous high-end electronics. Before the officers arrived, both suspects departed in a vehicle driven by a third unknown male. The confirmed monetary loss due to the theft is over $11,000.00.
The reporting Uniform Patrol Officer, B. Luke, utilized the extensive Automated License Plate Reader Camera system in Kearney and identified the suspect vehicle, which left Cabela’s east out of Kearney. Through the use of video and photographs from Cabela’s, Officers responsibly used technology and the wide network of automated license plate readers to successfully identify the two suspects who completed the shoplifting.
On Jan. 16, 2025, Officer B. Luke submitted felony arrest warrant affidavits for 31-year-old Reed Auten of Lincoln, Nebraska, and 33-year-old Lynden Winfree of Omaha, Nebraska. Both arrest warrants are for felony theft by shoplifting over $5,000.00.
With information from the nationwide network of FLOCK Safety ALPR cameras shared with the Kearney Police Department, it is believed the same suspects conducted similar thefts from the St. Louis Mo., Kansas City, Mo., Altoona Iowa, Council Bluffs Iowa, and La Vista. Cabela’s stores. Officers are working with these agencies to determine if other cases will be cleared.
“This is an exceptional example of good old-fashioned police work meeting the responsible use of 21st-century, advanced policing technology toward clearing a felony property crime and most likely a crime ring covering multiple jurisdictions in the mid-west. As always I am incredibly proud of our team and commitment to professional policing.” – Chief Bryan D. Waugh.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these two wanted subjects is asked to contact 911 or the City of Kearney/Buffalo County Crime Stoppers at 308.237.3424.
