Mitchell Police Chief Mike Hutchinson says the burglary of fireworks stands in his community and in Scottsbluff may be related. Hutchinson says the boxes left at both locations, 27th Street in Scottsbluff and adjacent to Joe's Burger Shop in Mitchell, were identical and the break-ins both involved Phantom fireworks locations.

The Mitchell burglary, which occurred early Thursday morning, was the latest break-in. The operator of the stand says many of the more expensive items were taken and he estimates the loss at over $5,000. Hutchinson says he has not officially received a list of what was taken. Bolt cutters were used to break into the stand. Hutchinson says full boxes of fireworks were left inside the stand and empty boxes were outside, leading him to believe his officer may have interrupted the loading of items when he arrived.

The Scottsbluff stand was broken into late Sunday night or early Monday morning. The proceeds from the stand were being used by Ariel Morrow of Kimball to gain funds for a trip to Europe this summer. At least $500 in product was taken from a yellow tent near where the former Bluffs Dash-In was located.