Gage County authorities complete auto theft investigation

BEATRICE – Gage County law officers say they’ve completed an investigation that dates back to the beginning of 2024, involving stolen vehicles in Wymore and Lincoln.

Last January 6^th, county law officers investigated a report of a stolen vehicle and an attempt to steal another vehicle, in Wymore.  Later that same evening, authorities recovered a stolen vehicle just inside the Lincoln city limits.  The vehicle had been wrecked and was a total loss.   No one was found by the vehicle.

Then, on January 23^rd, Gage County deputies responded to a request by Wymore Police, who had recovered a vehicle stolen in the city of Lincoln, about a month earlier.

Investigators learned that all of the incidents were related…and the thefts involved Hyundai vehicles.   Law officers say the thefts are suspected to be part of a larger, nationwide trend where Hyundai and Kia brand vehicles were specifically targeted by auto thieves.

19-year-old Oskar Lundberg, of Lincoln was arrested as a suspect in the thefts…along with 19-year-old Lochlyn Hansen, of Blue Springs, Nebraska.

Authorities say Lundberg was arrested for suspicion of theft, attempted theft and criminal mischief.  Hansen was taken into custody on suspicion of theft, attempted theft, theft by receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.

Gage County law officers said a third person…a female minor…was cited for aiding and abetting in some of the crimes.