The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) arrested two men April 13 in Bremen on suspicion of burglaries in four Lincoln County towns.
Andrew Longe, 19, of South Bristol and Nikolas Poland, 19, of Bremen, face burglary and theft charges in connection with 21 complaints in Bremen, Bristol, Damariscotta and Nobleboro.
According to an LCSO press release, the agency recovered several high-end televisions and stereo systems, as well as five outboard motors, power tools and other tools and electronics.
The press release alleges that the men also “admitted to stealing copper pipes from 15 residences,” two seasonal businesses (Duck Puddle and Pemaquid Lake campgrounds) and a town park.
The Bristol Parks Commission, which operates the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse park, only recently discovered the missing pipes. By the time a town official contacted LCSO, the case was solved, Lt. Michael Murphy said.
The total value of the recovered items and the pipes is estimated to be in excess of $60,000.
Longe and Poland sold the pipes to One Steel Recycling in Augusta, Murphy said. The business was “cooperative” during the investigation and did not break the law, he said.
According to the LCSO press release, Longe and Poland “mainly” worked “at night,” choosing targets “that were unoccupied or appeared to have been closed up for the winter.”
“The crime spree began in early March and continued until the suspects’ arrest,” according to LCSO.
Murphy said citizens “really helped us break” the case, calling with enough information for the agency to obtain a search warrant.
Longe and Poland are both free on $10,000 unsecured bail, according to a Two Bridges Regional Jail employee. They’re scheduled to appear in Lincoln County Superior Court on May 26 at 8:30 a.m.
Anyone with further information about the case is asked to call LCSO Det. Terry Michaud or Det. Ronald Rollins at 882-7332.
