A planned series of commercial burglaries in Kearney was thwarted this past weekend thanks to the swift actions of Kearney Police.

On Saturday, March 8, officers from the Criminal Investigations Unit and Patrol Division received a tip about a group of juveniles planning a string of burglaries in the area. As part of proactive patrol efforts, midnight officers were on the lookout when they spotted two individuals walking along Highway 33 at around 2 am. The suspects, dressed in all black with ski masks and carrying large bags, immediately fled on foot upon seeing the officers.

Following a brief search of the area, both juveniles were located and detained. In addition to their ski masks, officers found the suspects wearing socks over their shoes to conceal their footprints, as well as black gloves. One of the juveniles further revealed they had stolen their parent’s vehicle and parked it nearby as a "getaway" car.

Upon investigation, the vehicle was found occupied by a third juvenile, who had been waiting for the other two. Police contacted the parents of the minors involved, and the Clay County Juvenile Office was alerted. The case has now been forwarded to their office for further investigation.

No injuries were reported, and police continue to investigate the motives behind the planned burglaries.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.