OAKLAND, Maine — Police have arrested a second man in connection with a home invasion on Dec. 6 in which an elderly couple’s Christmas gifts were stolen. The crime has sparked an outpouring of community support for the victims.
Brandon Grimes, 26, was taken into custody without incident at his Summer Street residence around noon Wednesday, said Oakland police Capt. Rick Stubbert.
Grimes is a friend of the other suspect in the case, Jason Horne, 25, who was arrested Dec. 7, according to police.
Horne had been staying with Grimes at the 88 Summer St. house, across the street from where the burglary occurred, according to Stubbert.
Charlotte Lovejoy, 87, and her husband Del Lovejoy, 88, awoke to find that all their Christmas presents had been stolen. The couple have since done numerous media interviews, speaking out against the crime and thanking those who have donated money and gifts to replace what they lost. They declined to speak about the arrest of Grimes on Thursday, but Charlotte Lovejoy’s nephew, Alton Fuller of Augusta, said it has been an ordeal for them.
“It took its toll on my aunt,” Fuller told the BDN. “She’s the caregiver to my uncle.”
Police suspected two individuals were involved in the home invasion when the investigation was launched last week, according to Stubbert.
“It took a bit to get [Grimes], to prove he was there,” Stubbert said.
Once police concluded Grimes was the second suspect, he was arrested and booked on charges of theft, burglary and criminal mischief, Stubbert said. He has been released on bail from the Kennebec County Jail.
Horne and Grimes will appear in court in February.
Stubbert said last week that at least 15 gifts were stolen from the home while the couple was sleeping. Some of the gifts were wrapped and others weren’t wrapped, he said.
Police have recovered about a quarter of the couple’s Christmas gifts, but “the rest of the gifts are destroyed,” Stubbert said.
“First of all, it kind of hit a nerve with everyone here, just the nature of the crime,” Stubbert said. “Of course we work hard on all our burglaries but this one, we certainly wanted to give some extra attention.”
Donations of gifts and cash for the couple have been pouring in at the Oakland fire and police departments. Stubbert said the couple plans to use the donated money to purchase an alarm system for their home.
“They’re still a little rattled and scared from what happened,” Stubbert said.
Oakland Town Manager Peter Nielsen praised the work of his town’s police department in nabbing the suspects and the community’s generosity.
“I think the generosity of the people in Oakland has been made evident,” Nielsen said. “That’s got to be some comfort to the family.”
The stolen gifts were intended for the couple’s family members, including their grandchildren, Stubbert said last week.
“It’s tough to deal with a theft like that, especially this time of year,” Nielsen said.
Nielsen said the Oakland police and fire departments have been handling the donations, but noted a few folks have stopped by the town office to make contributions.
“It’s one of those bad stories where you hope to see some good, and I hope that the victims here have also seen the goodness that’s out there,” said Nielsen.
Donations started pouring in almost immediately after police arrested Horne, according to Nielsen, and Stubbert said between $3,000 and $4,000 has been collected.
“I do want to thank everybody, for them, for all the kindness and generosity that has been shown throughout not only the town of Oakland but the state of Maine, and even nationally,” Fuller said.
Those interested in donating to the fund should contact the Oakland Police Department between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays by calling 465-2202.
This is disgusting. A quarter of the gifts were found; the rest were destroyed? Let’s go get something of theirs that they really care for; a laptop, Xbox, flat screen TV, their cell phones, (you know, “real important stuff” whatever and just let em watch us run over them with a dump truck. Put some striped PJ’s on them and send them off.
lets just take something away from them that they need,,,,, like air…
C’mon there, Your Honor — can’t at least pull a no-bail until January? One soured Christmas deserves another…
You have some severely flawed logic.
So this garbage has terrorized an elderly couple by invading their home while they were sleeping, and he gets out on bail??
His logic is spot on.
Oh, whoops. I’m mistaken. I misread the article. Disregard my post. I agree with what Bill Cat said.
I understand, I usually assume the same thing with Bill.
According to the article the victimized old timers have $3,000-$4,000 on hand in donations.
And counting.
And the dirtbags that already stole them blind are on the loose
and back living across the street.
….Great job judge !!
Are you daft, sir ?
The judge just might be doing more harm to society than the dirtbags if he is this inept on a regular basis.
The only failed logic in this story is in the brain of these two despicable criminals.
his likes and your dislikes would severely dispute your comment.
Wow, this may be a first, but I actually completely agree with you here Bill. There should be some extra penaltry in these tough times when you have people like this and the dude from Limerick pulling the crap they have. I mean Christmas isnt much for a lot of people anymore, but to ruin the little some have is purely disgusting…Let em spend the holiday in a very smal room having some slop. They dont deserve to enjoy Christmas.
I have seen that loser around town,Ya bum
Another POS crackhead.
GREAT job ,,,,Oakland Police Dept.!! …. I would like to drag their sorry as— through Xmas wrap of barb wire!! Unbelievable! :( they would do something so wrong; as to steal Christmas presents from the elderly!!
Yes, buy an alarm system…and maybe a nice little .410 single. Very little recoil and you don’t need to be sharp on the trajectory to get someone’s attention.
“While they were sleeping”
I do get your point, but you have to be awake in order to shoot people. Well…you should be anyways.
My thinking was that when the alarm goes off, it wakes you up.
Brandon and Jason Grinch.
At least the Grinch saw the error of his ways and changed.
Will this two? Ya, right….
I wish dirt bags like this would receive REAL justice upon entering someone else’s home.
I recently read a story where that is exactly what happened. I don’t recall where it was but an elderly gentleman who lived alone was down in his basement in the evening and heard glass breaking upstairs in his home. He promptly grabbed his Ruger and waited until the perpetrator came down in the basement. When the perp got down into the basement he was greeted by several rounds, thus killing him. His partner who was driving the getaway car eventually came into the home to see why it was taking so long and she too was greeted by several rounds and ended up dead. I wish there were more stories like this, it might make some of these scum bags think twice before breaking into a home. I remember that my grandfather always slept with a gun under his pillow, up until he moved into a nursing home and for some reason they frowned upon this, not sure why (sarcasm intended). If more people armed themselves we would have less break ins and home invasions.
Our society is growing large crops of young people like him and much worse. Bad or no parenting., Schools that can’t discipline anyone without fear of being sued. Lax laws and courts that don’t back up police. This kid is the tip of the iceberg…. many more to come…stay tuned…
Punks peices of crap.. Strutting around like a bad a-s claiming to be all that.. You know, they have no hopes or dreams. and you are right it is the tip of the iceberg.. Made to order by government programs..
Years ago society could send kids like this into the military to be awakened They don’t want or need the anguish of dealing with them today. Too bad, as the Marines would give this guy a big clue in a hurry.
Maybe their parents dont give a cra* abut what a pox on society their ‘spawn’is,but I cant see any reason that they cant become organ donors.Now.Someone with some substance could use that heart,those kidneys and whatever and to become a viable member of society,and not be like these scum,stealing from the elderly…
ya know that is a really good idea–I don’t think this crime would warrant that punishment—but there’s a whole bunch out there that would–what a great deterrent.
Thanks! When I am elected President? This will be my first statute.
kid ??? full grown man that should have his face severely misaligned as a constant reminder of his cruelty —actually his friend as well…I know someone that will do this service at no cost to society.
Not going to handle it yourself? Most of you keyboard warriors have some serious sinister contacts. Can we all chip in when the hit man comes up from Boston?
I will send him directly to your place and you can tip him personally hows that for service.
Post that Grimes’ kids picture. I’ve heard that name before.
And wow Horne looks like quite the bada-s…standing up to those evil elderly.
Do they let the girlie men wear their hardware in Jail.. Maybe they do because it would allow the other prisoners to hang on to him when they deliver to him their christmas packages
Looks like a winner!!!
Horrific for the elderly couple, now on bail they are right back across the street from them.
Oh, I’m sure the judge told them prior to releasing, No alcohol, no drugs, stay away from the victims, oh, and please don’t get caught stealing while you are out on bail…
or you will have to be released on bail again.
Why? Has our society fell this deep in the trenches of hell? My father would have beat my ass.What the hell is happening with our youth.No parents or they are hooked on drugs. These boys need a cell for a year or so make an axsample out of them.
Hooked on drugs is NO EXCUSE! JAIL TIME…
Losers…lousy no good bums!
Seriously, how low can some of these idiots go? POS!
These boys need to be in JAIL… until a $50,000.00 bail is posted!
I do not any longer believe these half-wits have any idea what they are doing to themselves, and I think, they, think it is funny.
I am not so sure that I would not lose my composure if it were my family.
Wouldn’t you just like to get 5 minutes alone with one of these low lifes
Thats gross ma’am, settle down naw’.
I bet these two punks are feeling really big right now after stealing from the elderly.
yep, big something or other!!! IDIOTS
And two more sociopaths flip off the rules, society, the elderly, you name it. This character “trait” is becoming more of the rule than the exception. You see it, you want it, you take it. If you can’t sell it, destroy it. After all, it’s not yours, so it doesn’t matter. Not sure any intervention/consequence would get their attention. They see themselves as blameless victims….
Once they get a few prison beatings they will probably aspire to higher objectives.
It will probably be a family reunion once they are in prison.
That only happens in movies, there is no bubba in real life, more of a method to cope with the inability to seek revenge on someone by implying they will be beat up, killed, or raped; probably get along pretty well.
Take a good look at these guys. There is no remorse on either of their faces. The other law abiding citizens of Maine are getting kind of sick low lives like the guys are. When are people going to wake up and say enough is enough. Guys like these don’t just wake up one morning and become thugs…..it has taken them years to develop these unwanted skills. I’d be willing to bet their fathers were not in their lives or their parents would cave in and let them have their way. Everyone blames the schools and police but it all starts from day 1. Why wasn’t she granted a restraining order that would prevent them from living across the street. Is anyone advocating for the senior couple? Their lives are changed forever….just because two so-called men decided they wanted what they had……so so sad.
Yes one of them is a MVYDC Graduate. Hmmm great program. The revolving door again………..Little basturds….bastards ( no difference)
The ‘gentleman ‘ on the bottom looks particularly loathsome..
Agreed. Anyone with ears that size should refrain from adding earrings to them!
my neighbor just hollered over, asked why I was laughing so hard, she could hear me….I should not laugh, that comment is pitiful. but OH so funny..HAHAHAHA TEARS ROLLING DOWN….
“Donations of gifts and cash for the couple have been pouring in at the
Oakland fire and police departments. Stubbert said the couple plans to
use the donated money to purchase an alarm system for their home.”
they should invest in a .45 caliber alarm system!
There is something even sleazier when you think that these two slime balls would rob an elderly couple who probably live on a fixed income. What a pair of morons.
What about reinstating the chain gangs? I know of alot of roads, bridges and so on that could use some repair. The railroads as well. Put them on the end of a hand tool for a period of time, out in the woods with the bugs or in the cold and rain day after day. Do the crime, do the time. Society benefits with a stronger infrastructure and they get a lesson in why crime sucks, Sounds like a win/win to me.
I agree.It would probably be the first time that anyone ever said”No” to some of them..