BUXTON, Maine — Maine State Police announced on Tuesday afternoon that authorities recovered seven more stolen guns as part of their continued investigation into a burglary ring allegedly perpetrated by a York County brother-sister team and at least one accomplice.
York County deputies received a tip Monday that stolen weapons were being kept at a home on Hurlin Smith Road and found a 50-caliber sniper rifle, three Ruger special edition pistols and three assault rifles there.
Investigators believe there may still be as many as four stolen guns that remain unaccounted for in the case.
Police have arrested Amber Meserve, 21, of Limerick, Cole Meserve, 20, of Standish and Christopher Michaud, 23, of Limerick for their alleged roles in what has been described as a burglary spree that included more than 20 break-ins across three counties over two months.
Amber and Cole Meserve are sister and brother, police have said. In a Monday news release, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said police believe Amber Meserve brought her two small children with her during some of the burglaries.
He also said a second woman is likely to be charged during the investigation.
On Monday, Michaud and Amber and Cole Meserve made their first court appearances in Springvale District Court. Cole Meserve’s bail was increased from $10,000 to $15,000 during the arraignment, while bail was raised for Michaud and Amber Meserve from $10,000 to $20,000 each, according to McCausland.
Maine State Police troopers, county deputies and local police had been investigating a string of daytime burglaries in Sebago, Brownfield, Denmark, Gorham, Limington, Limerick, Dayton and Lyman dating to October.
The perpetrators in the crimes kicked in the doors of the homes, then went on to collectively steal more than 20 guns, electronics, jewelry, cash, dirt bikes and marijuana, according to police. Many of the stolen items were recovered during the execution of search warrants on houses in Limerick and Buxton on Friday and Saturday.
Trooper Jeremy Forbes, who is the troop investigator at the state police barracks in Alfred, said the burglars were using the money generated by the stolen items to buy drugs.
Police are urging anyone with knowledge of where the remaining stolen items are being kept to call the state police in Gray at 657-3030 and ask to speak to Forbes.
