NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — A Beatrice man has been arrested in connection with a string of church burglaries reported in North Platte over the past month, authorities said.
Chad Peterson was taken into custody on April 18th following an investigation that tied him to three separate incidents. According to North Platte police, the first burglary was reported on March 26 at a church in the 300 block of W. 5th Street. A second incident, an attempted burglary, occurred on April 9 at a church in the 3300 block of S. Oak Street.
Investigators reviewed video footage from the second location and used license plate data from the Flock automated license plate recognition (ALPR) system to identify a suspect and vehicle.
On April 18, police responded to a third reported burglary at a church in the 3300 block of Echo Drive. ALPR data showed the suspect’s vehicle was in the area at the time of the incident.
Officers located the vehicle in the 2100 block of S. Jeffers Street and obtained a search warrant for two vehicles operated by Peterson. A search was conducted, and Peterson was detained.
Peterson was arrested on charges of possession of burglary tools, a Class IV felony; attempted burglary, a Class IIIA felony; and burglary, a Class IIA felony. He was booked into the Lincoln County Detention Center.
The investigation remains ongoing. The North Platte Police Department reminds people with information regarding this incident or any similar incidents are encouraged to call the North Platte Police Department 308-535-6789. Anonymous information can be given by calling 534-8400 or online at www.lincolncountycrimstoppers.com