WATERVILLE — Four teens face felony burglary and aggravated criminal mischief charges after repeatedly breaking into a Pine Street house and destroying its interior, according to police.
The teenage youths allegedly punched holes in walls, damaged ceilings and smashed cabinets, countertops, windows, appliances, mirrors and furniture, causing $10,000 to $15,000 worth of damage, Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey said Thursday.
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“Very rarely do we see the level of destruction that these young people caused to the inside of this residence,” Rumsey said.
He said the homeowner lives out of state, uses the single-family dwelling in the city’s South End as a second home and returned there Wednesday, discovering the damage. He asked not to be identified, according to Rumsey.
After the homeowner reported the damage, Officer Dennis Picard started knocking on doors and talking to people to try to find those responsible, Rumsey said, adding, “He was able, through the process, to identify several juveniles that had been seen in the area.”
Picard interviewed four youths, then summoned and charged them with Class B felony burglary and Class C aggravated criminal mischief, according to Rumsey.
Picard charged two youths Wednesday and two on Thursday, he said.
The two boys, ages 14 and 15, and two girls, ages 13 and 14, live in Waterville and attend school here, Rumsey said. He said police have not had a lot of prior dealings with them.
“Our indications are, after having spoken to them, that there’s no good reason why this happened — that they were bored and looking for something to do,” Rumsey said.
He said nothing was stolen from inside the house, which they apparently entered through an unlocked door.
The youths will be arraigned and processed through the juvenile court system, he said.
Amy Calder — 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com
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