The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is advising renters of storage units to check for break-ins or missing items after police seized two moving trucks full of items taken from storage units in four counties.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is advising renters of storage units to check their units and report any break-ins or missing items after the arrest of a Thomaston man in connection with numerous burglaries.
Maine State Police troopers arrested Joshua Vandine, 37, in Rockland on Monday, March 19 and charged him with burglary and possessing a stolen gun, according to a press release from the Maine Department of Public Safety.
Troopers seized enough items from Vandine’s home, vehicle, and storage locker to load two U-Haul trucks. The items include chainsaws, tools, hunting and fishing equipment, coins, antiques, toys, and clothing.
Troopers said Vandine is suspected in multiple burglaries of storage lockers over the past two years. He is suspected of cutting the padlocks from the storage units and replacing the lock with one of his own to avoid immediate detection. Owners who have not checked their storage units in months could be victims.
The thefts are likely in Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, and Waldo counties. Troopers have been working with the sheriff’s offices from those four counties in the investigation. Some of the thefts may date back to 2016.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Michael Murphy said the sheriff’s office believes burglaries at eight storage businesses in Boothbay, Bristol Mills, Newcastle, Nobleboro, and Wiscasset could be connected to the investigation.
Vandine will likely face charges in Lincoln County as the investigation continues and investigators sort through the items seized Monday, according to Murphy.
Renters of storage units in Lincoln County who discover break-ins or missing items should call LCSO Detective Sgt. Ronald Rollins at 882-7332, according to Murphy.
