SOUTH THOMASTON, Maine — A furnace was reported stolen Wednesday morning from an unoccupied home on Westbrook Street.
The 2006 New York-brand furnace was taken from the house, which was being renovated, Knox County Sheriff Donna Dennison said Thursday.
The sheriff speculated that the person or people who stole it may have taken it to a scrap yard to be sold for scrap metal. Police will be checking with junk yards, she said.
A new furnace such as the one stolen sells for about $2,000.
The sheriff said miscellaneous tools also were reported stolen. The theft occurred sometime between Wednesday morning and a week prior, Feb. 17.
Entry was made by forcing open a door, Dennison said.
Deputy John Hansen is investigating the incident. He said that the house had been unoccupied for two years and recently had been acquired, with the new owners planning to renovate.
During the past two years, he said, the house has been broken into numerous times with everything from copper plumbing to electrical wires stolen from the property.