Tip leads police to arrest

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Thanks to the quick actions of a local resident, Houlton police were able to apprehend an individual on Main Street early Monday morning who was reportedly going through parked vehicles in the downtown area.
    According to Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin, Joshua Locke, 22, of Knox was arrested at 6:52 a.m. Monday after police observed him trying to enter cars. Officer Richard York observed the male subject, who was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, looking into a Subaru on Main Street. The male was observed attempting to open the vehicle with a hand that was wrapped within the sweatshirt so as not to leave fingerprints, the chief said.
    During his questioning, officer York noticed several items in the pocket of Locke’s sweatshirt. Those items were identified as an IPod, loose and rolled change, a Mio GPS, a laser pointer, a pair of Berska Binoculars, a Craftsman wrench, a tool set, an American Eagle Rewards Card, and a Powerline power inverter, which are used in a vehicle’s cigarette lighter outlet to provide electrical outlets.
    Locke also was in possession of marijuana, a pipe, a 100 mg tablet of Doxycycline and 0.5 mg of Lorazapam.
    “Mr. Locke maintained that the aforementioned items were his,” the chief said. “The owner of the IPod was subsequently identified and located.”
    Locke was charged with burglary of a motor vehicle (a Class D crime); theft by unauthorized taking or transfer (a Class E crime); illegal possession of schedule Z drugs (a Class E crime); sale/use of drug paraphernalia (a civil crime); and possession of marijuana (a civil crime). He is expected to appear in court on the charges on Aug. 2.
    A Maple Street resident tipped off police to the alleged burglaries.
    Houlton Police are asking anyone who is missing items from their vehicle to contact them at 532-2287. The matter remains under investigation. Chief Asselin reminds all vehicle owners to always remove their keys and lock their vehicle whenever leaving it unattended.
    “Crime is all about opportunity,” he said. “Protect your home and valuables by remembering to keep your possessions secure.”