Officers with the Lincoln Police Department have arrested a man they believe is involved in a number of car break-ins at churches in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Sunday morning, right before 10 a.m, LPD said an officer was looking at the parking lot of Saint Michael’s Church on 78th Street and Yankee Woods Drive.
LPD said officers are aware of new car break-ins at church parking lots across the city and there had been incidents at several churches that morning.
According to police, the officer observed a man standing next to a blue Subaru Outback with a broken window and a green Toyota Tacoma running close by.
The officer recognized the green Toyota as the vehicle that had been on security video from the thefts reported earlier.
LPD said the officer contacted the man, identified as 45-year-old Aaron Stednitz, and he was arrested.
From there, officers investigated the green Toyota and found that it had two different license plates, both of which were stolen.
LPD said the officer ran the green Toyota’s VIN and discovered that it had been stolen on September 26th at the corner of W Calvert and S Folsom Streets in southwest Lincoln.
The officers observed the GPS inside the car with the address that Stednitz provided as his home address and was listed on his driver’s license.
LPD said inside the car, officers discovered a case with 0.9g of methamphetamine in a clear bag and a glass pipe.
Officers also discovered tools that are consistent with what would be used during a burglary or car break-in, including a mini-crowbar, long flat head screwdriver, glass breaking multi-tool, latex gloves, flashlights, binoculars, among other tools.
According to LPD, officers also discovered things that are commonly stolen in car break-ins such as gift cards, car keys, a radar detector, a GPS unit, and electronics.
Investigators said they checked security video from the church showing Stednitz get out of the Toyota and get into the victim’s car in the lot.
LPD was able to connect Stednitz to other reported thefts, as well.
Stednitz is facing felony theft by receiving (auto theft) charges, possession of controlled substance charges, possession of burglar’s tools charges, and three counts of theft by receiving, and one count of theft by illegal taking charges.
