Lincoln police continue to investigate a series of Molotov cocktail incidents, and the department is asking for the public's help in solving these cases.

There have been several cases in the last couple of months, including the one involving Nanette and Charles Burk's house. Police say they were startled in the early morning hours of May 23rd by a loud thump. "We looked out this window," Nanette Burk says, "and our grass was on fire."

"Honestly, I was kind of thinking a firework had gone wrong," says homeowner Charles Burk. "I thought someone chucked fireworks at the house or something like that, until I noticed the bottles in the yard, grabbed the hose and started spraying them off."

Lincoln police say the Burks' home was hit by a Molotov cocktail, but it didn't end there.

"There was another case at 30th and Ashlee, where a Molotov cocktail was thrown and it struck a vehicle in a driveway," LPD officer Matt Tangen says. "This caused the vehicle to burn and that caused about $30,000 worth of damage."

That incident occurred on May 28th, and similar bottle bomb cases have been reported in all different parts of the city. "This year in May and June so far we've had 12 reports of Molotov cocktails, and the damage in these reports has already totaled more than $40,000," officer Tangen says.

"Now when I say Molotov cocktail, I mean like we've been seeing in these cases, which is usually a bottle filled with some type of flammable fluid," officer Tangen says. "Then there's some type of ignition source, whether it be a rag or a shirt torn up, which is then lit on fire. And the bottle is thrown and it will break and cause a small explosion and a fire as well."

Lincoln police say as the Molotov cocktail incidents continue, they point out there are some very stiff penalties for those who get caught committing the crimes.

"Just setting a fire or causing an explosion to an occupied building is a Class II Felony in Nebraska, punishable by up to 50 years in prison," officer Tangen says.

Victims like the Burks say they hope police will catch the suspects responsible, so they won't strike again. Authorities are getting some Crimestoppers tips, but could use some more.

"We still need any additional information, so that we can help once and for all solve these crimes," officer Tangen says.