PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A 17-year-old from Mars Hill has been arrested and charged with several crimes stemming from a series of car burglaries and a home invasion earlier in the week.

Presque Isle police Sgt. Laurie Kelly said Thursday the male, whose name police declined to release because he is a juvenile, was arrested Wednesday evening. The Mars Hill teen had been listed as a runaway earlier.

The teenager reportedly gained entry into an unlocked home on Third Street early Tuesday morning, Kelly said.

“The family woke up and discovered him going through things in their kitchen,” she said.

The teen escaped with several items he allegedly had taken from the home.

A number of Presque Isle residents reported throughout the day on Tuesday that their vehicles had been burglarized.

“Little things were taken,” she said. “He took CDs and money and other items that he found in the vehicles.”

Kelly said the owners of the Third Street home had a good look at the burglar and gave police a description.

Witnesses to the car burglaries also described a youth they had seen in the area. Those descriptions appeared to match, according to police.

Police tracked down the teen, and Kelly said items from several crimes were found in his possession. The items included prescription medications, including Xanax, which Kelly told police did not belong to him.

Police arrested the teen Wednesday night. Kelly said the 17-year-old escaped briefly after his arrest, but was found a moment later and was charged with escape also.

He was taken to the Aroostook County Jail and booked on charges of burglary, two counts of drug possession and escape.

Officer Larry Fickett investigated the incident.

jlynds@bangordailynews.net

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