Lincoln Coalition Cuts Construction Burglary Losses

A police-contractor partnership formed after heavy 2024 losses has coincided with sharp declines in damage and theft at Lincoln construction sites.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Property Crime

Photograph of a locked steel storage cage of lumber and pipe on a concrete slab, with a security camera on a pole under open prairie sky. — Lincoln construction sites have seen sharp drops in burglary damage and theft since a police-contractor coalition formed after heavy losses in 2024. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Lincoln Police Department formed a construction coalition with the local Association of General Contractors chapter after construction burglaries reported large losses in 2024. Damage and monetary losses at Lincoln construction sites have since fallen sharply.

Why it matters

Construction burglaries can delay projects for months when custom materials are stolen or damaged, raising costs for contractors and the people who depend on finished work. The coalition offers a model of police and industry cooperation that has already been brought to Omaha.

Lincoln Police Department reports show 136 construction burglaries in 2024 with $454,000 in losses, falling to 61 incidents and $247,000 in 2025. So far in 2026, 32 reports total $62,400 in losses, and the extent of the coalition's role in the decline has not been determined.

The players

Lincoln Police Department

The Lincoln Police Department is the municipal law enforcement agency serving Lincoln, Nebraska, and it leads the construction coalition's work with contractors.

Association of General Contractors

The Association of General Contractors is a national trade association of construction firms, and its Lincoln chapter is the local industry partner in the coalition.

The details

Coalition members meet monthly, later quarterly, and share measures such as security stickers on helmets and cameras on job sites. Sites are also secured by locking equipment, removing keys, and storing tools in less accessible areas, while contractors report suspicious activity between meetings.

2024: Construction burglaries reported large losses, prompting the coalition's formation.
2025: Incidents and losses at construction sites declined substantially.
2026: Construction burglary reports continue at lower levels so far this year.

Legal Context

The Lincoln coalition's practices have been brought to Omaha, extending a locally developed approach to construction-site theft across neighboring communities. The Lincoln model is positioned as a template that other cities can adopt for reducing theft on job sites.

Contractors and property owners in Lincoln face fewer delays from stolen or damaged materials as site losses decline. Residents benefit indirectly when construction projects finish on schedule and costs stay lower.

The takeaway

Construction sites can reduce theft by coordinating with law enforcement, using visible identifiers, and securing equipment and keys. Contractors who report suspicious activity promptly help the coalition track patterns between meetings.