Months of investigation by a Maine police taskforce resulted in two arrests on Sept. 28 in Plaistow, N.H., for alleged involvement in an interstate burglary spree beginning in Waldoboro in May.
The pair is believed to have stolen “hundreds of thousands of dollars” worth of jewelry and flatware from homes throughout Midcoast Maine, New Hampshire and possibly Massachusetts, said Waldoboro Police Chief Bill Labombarde.
Patrick Quinn, 36, and Summer Ali-Ariza, 29, both residing in Camden until they left the state in early September, have been charged with multiple counts of burglary and theft, with more charges pending.
“So far, [the culprits] have already sold $95,700 worth of gold and silver,” said Waldoboro Police Det. Lance Mitchell, a lead investigator on the case. That figure represents money the pair has allegedly received for the sale of stolen goods. The total value of goods is likely much higher, Mitchell said.
Police said they found silverware, coins, diamond necklaces, bracelets and tiffany teapots in the suspects’ possession and in their home.
Waldoboro Police and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office took a lead role in a taskforce that also included Camden, Belfast, Searsport, Lincolnville and Damariscotta police.
Anyone missing jewelry or other valuables is encouraged to contact their local police department. The suspects reportedly entered homes and took only valuable items; many victims may not have realized anything is wrong.
“We have a lot of jewelry with no victims,” Labombarde said. “They may not notice it’s gone until they go to wear it. In my case, it might be decades before I take my wife out someplace she needs her nice jewelry.”