Police have arrested two men they say are responsible for more than 25 commercial burglaries across the state over the last few months, including one at a South China store.
Michael Warner, 37, and Taylor Shultz, 34, both of Biddeford, were charged Friday with possession of stolen property, according to a news release from Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland. Police are seeking a third unidentified man in connection with the crimes.
More than 25 commercial businesses were affected by the burglaries, according to the release.
McCausland said a complete list was unavailable Saturday, but the businesses included Tobey’s Grocery in South China, J.C. Penney in Rockland, and others in central, southern and mid-coast Maine.
A recent burglary in Norridgewock was not included in the burglary ring, according to business owner Holly Stebbins at Holly & Doug’s Country Diner.
Chief Deputy James Ross, of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, said last week that police were investigating whether the Norridgewock burglary also was connected to others around the state, but Stebbins said Saturday that it probably is not.
McCausland said the burglaries were reported this year through the spring and summer. More charges are pending and police also are looking for a third suspect believed to be connected to the burglaries.
The arrests of Warner and Shultz were made Friday after multiple search warrants were executed by local, state and federal agencies, leading to the recovery of stolen property and drugs and the seizure of more than 80 items of evidence, the release said.
The total value of the items stolen and the estimated cost of repairing damage to the businesses exceed $200,000.
The Norridgewock burglary on Sept. 21 resulted in more than $600 in cash being stolen from the restaurant, including $80 that was to be donated to a fundraiser called No Kid Hungry to end childhood hunger in the United States.
Stebbins said that while she hasn’t heard of any new leads in the Norridgewock burglary, the community has produced an outpouring of support and that she already has surpassed the amount of money originally raised for No Kid Hungry.
“The customers have been amazing,” she said. “It’s really nice, and I was really very pleasantly surprised. We have a little over $500. It’s been amazing.”
Rachel Ohm — 612-2368
Twitter: @rachel_ohm
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