LEWISTON, Maine — Police on Saturday arrested two 19-year-old Lewiston men — Dante Thompson and Corey Hunt — in a string of at least 50 car burglaries across Lewiston and Auburn.
Police searches of the men’s homes Saturday morning uncovered laptop computers, iPads, phones, digital cameras, CDs, DVDs and a home Playstation, among other items, most believed stolen from cars as they sat in their driveways at night, Lewiston Police Sgt. Danny Lachance said.
“They preyed on people who left their cars unlocked,” Lachance said.
The men could have robbed as many as 100 cars, he said.
Police charged Hunt and Thompson with theft. Thompson also was charged with unlawful possession of drugs.
A third, unnamed suspect has been tied to the burglaries. However, that person is a juvenile and already in custody on an unrelated charge, Lachance said.
Hunt was released from the Androscoggin County Jail on Saturday after posting $100 bail. As of 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening, Thompson had not posted his bail of $1,000 cash or $10,000 surety.
Police declined to disclose further details about how they caught the men. However, Lachance said the department had been investigating for weeks, hoping to end the recent rash of burglaries.
Many people had reported the familiar story of missing items from their cars, he said.
“It ties up a lot of police time during the day because they’re handling all these calls,” Lachance said.
Four officers — Cpl. Tom Murphy and officers Nathan Hood, Jason Nadeau and Jeffrey Burkhardt — spent Saturday returning items to about 20 people. More items are left to return to people in both Lewiston and Auburn, Lachance said.
People wishing to see whether their items have been recovered are encouraged to call the Lewiston Police Department at 513-3001, beginning Monday morning.
Locals laugh at me when I tell them to lock their cars even if they are sitting in their own driveway. But this is why I never have anything stolen from my car. Granted, a determined thief can find a way, but I say make em work for it if they are going to steal.
I agree. I’m a light sleeper and if they make enough noise I get to fire a couple of warning shots over their heads. It won’t kill them and it might scare them enough so they have to change their pants after. And it would make my day.
Or, they could acquire firearms and or weapons and return at the time of their leisure for payback, Seeing where as they would know where you live. When you shoot you shoot to destroy the target and remember every bullet has a lawyer attached.
That’s assuming they are still alive.
cars have windows and rock breaks glass, Don’t keep anything worth someone taking in your vehicle.
I don’t keep anything of value in my vehicles and if they want to come back for more my pleasure,the second time you shoot for center mass.
The winner of today’s Internet Tough guy award is…
Jail time your honor, please … let these idiots do some jail time
100(?) car breakins and thefts !!
$ 100 bail.
No Jobs, No Hope, no Dreams. they can’t be fixed in this enviroment.. Pick an Island.
Where was the baseball bat carrying preacher when they needed him. Myself, i like the ring of an aluminum bat when it hits bone.
Oh, a louisville slugger sounds even better!!!!
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/11/04/news/lewiston-auburn/crime-rate-in-lewiston-drops-and-residents-feel-less-safe/
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These two guys are idiots and deserve their punishment……but come on people! Lock your doors! Most cars now come with powers locks so it’s as simple as a click-of-a-button! I lock my doors even if I’m just running into a gas station for a few seconds….even if my car is still in sight. It’s habit, like anything else. And don’t leave valuable stuff in the car, if you don’t need to. Keep something like a GPS out of sight when you’re not using it. That’s what I do, anyways. So far, it’s worked!
I think it’s terrific when the newspaper posts pictures and addresses of maggots like these so that they are ‘easier to find’ at a later date.
Dirtbags
Little scumbags should have their hands cut off.
When are people going to realize that they don’t live in Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and lock their car doors. Perhaps they don’t lock them because they are afraid they will lock themselves in the car and won’t be able to get out?