Theft Unlawful Taking, & Theft by Receiving Stolen Property Nets Arrest and Citations

DATE & TIME: Monday, December 23, 2024

LOCATION: Wymore, NE

OFFENSE: Theft by Unlawful Taking, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property

CASE: 2024-0088, 2024-0089, 2024-0380

DETAILS: The Gage County Sheriff's Office has concluded an investigation involving stolen vehicles in both Wymore and Lincoln, NE, dating back to January 2024.  During the early morning hours of January 6, 2024, Gage County Sheriff's Deputies responded to one report of a stolen vehicle and another report of an attempted stolen vehicle, both occurring in Wymore, NE.  Later that same evening, the stolen vehicle was recovered in Lancaster County just outside of Lincoln and the vehicle had been crashed and was a total loss.  No occupants were located in the vehicle.

On January 23, 2024 Gage County Sheriff's Deputies responded to assist the Wymore Police Dept. with the recovery of a vehicle that had been stolen out of Lincoln, NE about a month earlier.

Through the investigation, all of the incidents were learned to be related.  All of the vehicles involved were Hyundai brand vehicles and this was believed to be part of a larger nationwide trend in which Hyundai and Kia brand vehicles were specifically targeted by car thieves, with the trend being spread via the social media site "Tik Tok".  

Arrested in the case was Oskar Lundberg, age 19, of Lincoln.  Lundberg was arrested for one count of Theft by Unlawful Taking (More than $5,000), one count of Attempted Theft by Unlawful Taking ($1,500-$5,000), and one count of Criminal Mischief.  Also charged in the case was Lochlyn Hansen, age 19, of Blue Springs, NE.  Hansen was charged with one count of Theft by Unlawful Taking (More than $5,000), one count of Attempted Theft by Unlawful Taking ($1,500-$5,000), one county of Criminal Mischief, and one count of Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, more than $5,000.

A third person, a juvenile, was also issued a citation in this case for Aiding and Abetting in some of these crimes.

Inv. Matthew Ernst, 90315

Sheriff Millard "Gus" Gustafson #903