Lincoln man used ‘finger gun’ to rob grocery store cash register, police say

On Friday afternoon, a 43-year-old Lincoln man robbed a local grocery store using only his bare hands, stealing a cash register from La Illucion before store workers caught him and detained him for police , according to the authorities.

Lincoln Police Sgt. Chris Vollmer said Shawn Brown flashed a ‘finger gun’ – configuring his hand to mimic the shape of a gun – and threatened employees at Lincoln’s central store before leaving with the cash register around 4 p.m. Friday.

By the time officers responded to the area near 13th and F streets, employees had chased Brown and detained him. Two employees were slightly injured in the robbery, Vollmer said.

Police found Brown, restrained by employees, near F Street and Goodhue Boulevard, where they arrested him on suspicion of theft.

The stolen cash register and all of its contents were returned to the store. Brown was taken to Lancaster County Jail.

Nebraska’s Most Dangerous Cities

5. Scott Bluff

The city of 15,862 had 53 violent crimes for a rate of 3.34 per 1,000 in 2019.

Photo: Gering Police Officer Jordan McBride talks to Scottsbluff Police Officer Michael Modeac as he sets up crime scene tape at the scene of a gun battle in Scottsbluff in June 2021 .

JEFF VAN PATTEN/Star-Herald file photo