Metal items reported stolen
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Police have received several reports of metal items stolen from local properties over the past couple weeks.
The first incident was reported at 9:22 a.m. on June 15 by a camp owner who discovered a potbelly stove and two sinks missing from her porch. The theft occurred west of the Chapman Road on a gated road leading to the Presque Isle Stream — in an area known as Hobart Hill. Officer Lynn Hartley of the Presque Isle Police Department was assigned to investigate. While gated, the camp is accessible via four-wheeler, however police describe the terrain as “very rough.”
Since the Northern Maine Regional Airport has installations in the vicinity, Hartley spoke with Airport Manager Scott Wardwell to determine if airport employees had any idea who might have taken the items or if anyone had seen anything suspicious. Hartley also contacted a salvage yard but an official with the business told her no such items had been taken in the past few months.
On June 22, a landlord came into the police department to report someone had removed copper out of the basement of two apartment units on Skyway Street. Officer Kevin Reed, PIPD, was assigned to the case.
Police received a third report of stolen metal on June 24 around 7:18 p.m., when a man working for a foreclosure company called advising he’d done a home inspection at 12 Third St. and discovered much of its copper had been removed. Officer Rob Thibeault was assigned to investigate.
Thibeault met with the man, who showed the officer damage to the front window where someone had gained entry. Performing a walk-through of the home, Thibeault observed copper used in the structure’s heating system was primarily missing upstairs and in the basement. Neighbors were questioned but no one recalled seeing anything suspicious.
All three cases remain under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the PIPD at 764-4476.
