More arrests in Crime Spree

Three more arrests were made and three individuals are behind bars in Adams County Wednesday in connection with a number of vehicle thefts throughout the area. Adams County officers arrested an 18 year old man and two juveniles caught in the act of tearing up a field with a stolen ATV. Cody Luben of Superior was arrested in connection with the same rash of thefts previously bringing to four the number so far involved with the crime spree that spanned four counties and led to the damage of crops, pivots, road signs, gates and fences and of course vehicles. Several of the vehicles were used in demolition derby type activities and were left abandoned on roadways and ditches, including a 2002 Cheve pickup belonging to Blue Hill resident Zeb Weber. Webers pickup was found near Blue Hill on property belonging to Dan VanBoening. VanBoening's crops were damaged as the pickup was totally trashed in a mini demo derby with a Ford pickup stolen from Adams County. The three individuals were arrested in Adams County by the Adams County Sheriff's Department, which is now spearheading the investigation. Names of those arrested are not being released at this time because the investigation is in the early stages and charges have not yet been officially filed Adams County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Ackles said. In early July, Adams County Sheriff Gregg Magee told the Tribune that in many of the situations the vehicles have been unlocked and the keys were in the ignition when they were stolen. However the thefts were unusually brazen in the fact that they were taken right out of the yards and very near the homes of the victims. Vehicles involved in the thefts range in year from 1995 to 2011. Magee said most of the thefts were pickup trucks, but other vehicles taken include a utility cart and a semi truck, as well as a combine. In one of the incidents, a 2006 Dodge Ram was taken from Kenesaw and recovered west of the village in Kearney County, missing a GPS system and trailer hitch. A 2011 Dodge Dakota was taken from Hastings in another case and recovered on South Maxon Avenue. the vehicle was determinded to have been involved in property damage to the Skyhlark Air Field in the Industrial Park East. Ackles said Thursday that all the information gathered on the incidents is being processed and will be forwarded as necessary to the Adams County Attorney's office for prosecution. "There are some thefts of vehicles from Clay and Webster and one recovered in Kearney County, so depending on where the facts lead us, we may be sending cases to other counties to help them prosecute those cases, " Ackles said. The vehicles were taken for the purpose of destruction and abandonment. The individuals will be charged in as many as four counties with several charges including motor vehicle theft and criminal mischief. More arrest may follow. Other agencies involved in the investigation were the Hastings Police Department, Nebraska State patrol, Buffalo County Sherrif's Department and agencies in Clay, Webster and Kearney counties.