A 23-year-old North Platte man has been charged after police say he attempted to steal a vehicle and left a cell phone inside.

On November 1st, officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to the 300 block of West 1st Street in regards to an attempted theft of a vehicle.

The victim said they left the vehicle unlocked overnight and when they returned to the vehicle the next morning, the steering column had been damaged.

The victim also indicated that a cell phone in the vehicle did not belong to them.

An officer took the phone a placed a call to “Dad” in the contact list.

“Dad” answered the phone and indicated that the phone belonged to his daughter, but said she had let his son borrow the phone the night before.  Police determined that the son was Andrew Lauber.

Lauber was contacted by phone, but refused to meet with officers.

On December 5th, an officer had contact with Lauber on an unrelated issue and placed him under arrest for the attempted theft of the vehicle.

According to Investigator John Deal, because the value of the vehicle was over $1,500, the charge is a felony.

Lauber was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.