A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the burglary of a home that occurred last week while the neighborhood was under emergency evacuation due to a rail tanker fire.
Lincoln Police Sgt. Terry Kennedy said this was one of three burglaries reported in areas within a 1-mile radius of the propane tank fire that were under mandatory evacuations for two days last week. The 16-year-old is believed to have been involved in only one of the three burglaries, he said.
In this case, the homeowners discovered that someone had broken into their home and stolen several items, including a shotgun. Officers and detectives followed up on leads and arrested the youth at his home. Kennedy said the teenager's parents assisted police in recovering all the stolen items, including the shotgun. The youth was booked into Placer County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of burglary, looting and possession of stolen property.
Kennedy said no arrests have been made in the other two burglaries, in which electronic equipment and jewelry were reported stolen.
Although residents of approximately 4,800 homes were ordered to leave neighborhoods that could have been affected had the tanker exploded, some people chose to remain and some snuck back in, Kennedy said.
"But the general public as a whole was extremely cooperative," he said.
Kennedy said most residents took the evacuation in stride, and police encountered few problems in neighborhoods or the three emergency shelters set up in the city.
From a law enforcement perspective, he said, the community's response to the situation was admirable. Most people sought to help each other, Kennedy said.
KCRA: Police: Teen arrested for looting in Lincoln - Aug. 29, 2011
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