WATERVILLE — An assault-type rifle and a shotgun were among four guns stolen recently in separate incidents.
The assault rifle and two handguns were stolen early Monday in a burglary at JR’s Trading & Pawn shop at 100 Elm St., according to police Chief Joseph Massey.
A Water Street resident reported Sunday that the shotgun was taken from her home sometime last week, he said.
“So, we now have four stolen weapons out there on the street,” Massey said. “With the increase of pharmacy robberies, that’s very alarming and very concerning. Generally, people who steal firearms use them to commit armed robberies, so we are doing everything possible to try to recover these firearms.”
An alarm around 3 a.m. alerted police to the pawn shop robbery. Officers found a window and door had been smashed with a rock.
Sgt. Bill Bonney and Officer Robert Bouley went inside and thought the burglar may still be there, Massey said. Knowing the area inside the shop was large and contained firearms, they called for help from Winslow and Oakland police.
State police Trooper Rick Moody also responded with a dog and searched the building, but no one was found.
Detective Alan Perkins was called in, collected and processed evidence and remained on the scene until about 8 a.m. Monday, according to Massey.
“We’re working very diligently to see if we can’t come up with a suspect and recover these guns,” he said
Massey said the three guns are worth about $2,000.
The 12-gauge shotgun was reported missing by a woman at 22 Water St., who said she noticed it missing on Saturday and had last seen it five day earlier, Massey said.
“She was able to give the officer names of people who had been visiting her over the last five days and at this point, we are following up and talking to these people to see if they have knowledge about the shotgun or the whereabouts of the shotgun.”
Amy Calder — 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com
Waterville police Chief Joseph Massey on Thursday hosted a forum for pharmacy employees, students and professors, long-term care providers, medical professionals and others who deal with medication to provide guidelines on what to do before, during and after a robbery.
“I was very, very pleased that many of the pharmacies and medical facilities have pretty good safety protocols in place,” Massey said.
About 30 people attended the forum. Massey told those attending about his prescription drug diversion program, which notifies pharmacies about people who have gotten illegal prescription drugs in the past. He also told them about the Police Department’s Shopper’s Cop program, which sends an officer into businesses to provide a police presence and information at a booth.
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