Surveillance cameras at Benson Library in Omaha captured a man breaking a window to get inside during the early morning hours of September 30, then walking out with a recycling bin loaded with stolen equipment. Omaha police say he made off with roughly $2,500 worth of computer and audio/visual gear.
The footage, described by KETV, shows the suspect wearing a black Everlast jacket and keeping himself mostly covered throughout the break-in. At one point his hood slipped, revealing what the outlet describes as a white man who appears to be balding. Authorities released the video in hopes that someone recognizes either the man or his distinctive jacket.
How the Break-In Unfolded
According to the same report, the man broke the window to gain entry into the library before he was later seen carrying the recycling bin full of stolen items. The sequence, captured on camera from start to finish, gave investigators a detailed look at how the burglary played out, even without a confirmed identity for the suspect.
It is not the first time a Benson-area business has had its surveillance cameras do the heavy lifting in a property-crime investigation. In an earlier case, cameras inside Mantra Bar and Grille at 6913 Maple St. caught burglars smashing through a glass door, splitting up inside, and ultimately loading a safe into a car before speeding away, the station previously reported.
Reward Money on the Table for Tips
Anyone with information on the library break-in can contact Crime Stoppers at 402-444-STOP, through its website, or via the P3 Tips app. Tips are always anonymous, and tipsters will not be asked to testify.
Omaha Crime Stoppers is a nonprofit affiliated with the Omaha Police Department, and its board, made up of private citizens, approves reward payouts rather than police leadership. Per the organization's how-it-works page, standard rewards range from $50 to $1,000, while its Enhanced Reward Program can pay out between $1,000 and $25,000 in cash, with the final amount depending on the severity of the crime and board approval. All tipsters remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward if their information leads to an arrest, though a tip number is required to actually collect the payout.
That reward money does not come from the police budget. The organization's website states that funds come directly from donations and fundraising efforts by citizens and businesses in the community, and that Omaha Crime Stoppers has approved more than $2,294,000 in rewards since 1986.
