PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A man and woman who were arrested on Jan. 22 in Mars Hill after allegedly stealing a vehicle while attempting to flee authorities have been charged with additional crimes stemming from the incident.
Sgt. Mark Barnes of the Presque Isle Police Department said Thursday that Robert Helstrom, 29, and Trishia Willette, 24, both of Presque Isle face charges stemming from a series of motor vehicle burglaries that took place on Jan. 21.
Police were seeking the public’s help Thursday to identify items found in the stolen vehicle that the owner of the car said do not belong to him, the sergeant said.
According to Barnes, Presque Isle Police received approximately six complaints from residents reporting that their unlocked vehicles had been rummaged through on the night of Jan. 21.
Later that night, a vehicle was reported stolen.
Aroostook County Sheriff Darrell Crandall said last week the stolen 1996 Geo Prizm was found in a parking lot of a convenience store in Mars Hill, and when Helstrom and Willette saw Lt. Ross McQuade approaching, they fled the scene on foot.
Willette soon was caught and taken into custody. Helstrom was found a short time later hiding behind a home.
They both initially were charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. They since have been charged with two counts of burglary of a motor vehicle and theft.
Items allegedly stolen included a passport and a check. Barnes said that while the stolen vehicle was processed for evidence, a bag of approximately 75 stickers was left in the car that didn’t belong to the owner. The stickers are individually packaged and are for young children, according to the packaging. Some stickers are of planets and spaceships, and others are of astronauts.
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the owner of the property that may have been stolen from an unreported burglary of a motor vehicle.
Anyone with information should call Sgt. Mark Barnes at 764-4476.