Folks in South Omaha are saying the holiday season in some neighborhoods has not been one of festive cheer, but criminal activity. From car break-ins to stolen Christmas decorations, thieves and vandals are targeting whatever they can.
Dawn Reed has lived in South Omaha all of her life, which is why it’s so disheartening to her when people do bad things in her neighborhood.
“Christmas ornaments are getting stolen of their yard – I have a lot of friends in South Omaha and they are getting their cars broken into. My parents live in the brown park neighborhood and their vehicles, their neighbors’ vehicles – just a lot of break-ins,” said Reed.
Reed says she found a man in her car on Monday evening.
“It was about 8 or 9 o’clock at night and I came out of my front door and my door light was on in my car and the passenger side door was open and there was a kid getting in my car,” said Reed.
Reed says she yelled at the person she believes is a man, wearing black pants and a black hoody, covering their head and called 911. She says the person nonchalantly got out of her car and started walking down the street.
“He went down about three cars and walked towards that minivan and went inside the middle van, but as was walking to the van, he kept peeking into other cars,” added Reed.
Reed said police came within minutes and scoped the area, but were unsuccessful in finding the person.
Reed’s incident is one of several people told 3 News Now about Wednesday.
Others in different parts of South Omaha, including 40th and Q St. and 27th and Y St., talked about windows smashed and attempted break-ins.
Others mentioned tagging; areas like 17th and Vinton St. continue getting tagged.
3 News Now reached out to OPD. A spokesperson was unaware of a crime spike, but suggested people stay vigilant.
