Unknown man steals actors’ items during benefit show, police seeking tips

BANGOR, Maine — While community volunteers were staging a benefit for area nonprofits Sunday afternoon, an unidentified man was in their changing room helping himself to their belongings.

The Bangor Police Department on Monday released a security camera image of the thief in the hopes someone might recognize him and provide information that would enable authorities to determine the man’s identity.

The thefts occurred during Sunday’s performance of “Music from the Movies,” the Rotary Club of Bangor’s seventh annual Music Off Broadway show, which this year will benefit the Charlotte White Center, the Hammond Street Senior Center, the Phillips-Strickland House, Camp Jordan and the Gifts of Music.

Bangor police Officer Tim Shaw was sent to Bangor High School about 4 p.m. Sunday to investigate a report that a man had rummaged through — and had stolen — some personal items belonging to community volunteers who were performing in the Rotary production, Bangor police Sgt. Paul Edwards said Monday in a news release.

The thefts were discovered by two actresses, who stepped into the changing room and caught the man going through everyone’s belongings, Edwards said.

“When the man saw them, he took off running through an emergency exit, which sounded an alarm, and ran toward the back of WZON radio station,” Edwards said. The area was searched and no one was found.

The suspect is described as a tall male who appears to be in his 50s and who has a gray-and-white beard, Edwards said. The man was wearing a large baggy gray sweatshirt that had blue and yellow in it.

He is shown in the security camera image wearing a New York Yankees baseball cap.

Anyone with information about the man’s identity is urged to call Officer Shaw at 947-7382, ext. 95766. To leave an anonymous message, press 6 to access the Police Department’s tip line.