WINTHROP — On April 17, somebody smashed their way into five businesses on and around Main Street, grabbing easily carried items and cash.
Police investigated and ultimately arrested a lone suspect. It would seem like an ordinary burglary spree were it not for an unrelated rash of commercial break-ins — roughly 30 — that occurred around the same time.
In Winthrop, in the early-morning hours April 17, windows and doors at four businesses at 357 Main St. were smashed or pried open by a burglar seeking cash from the registers along with other items he could carry away. A similar break-in was reported less than a mile away, at a fitness center on Route 133.
Targeted in those burglaries were two fitness centers, two restaurants and a hair salon.
Winthrop police detective Peter Struck began to investigate and as he did, he began hearing from police in neighboring towns who were investigating break-ins of their own.
It seemed to be happening all over — in Winthrop, Monmouth and Augusta and extending into Sabattus and Lewiston. Investigators from several departments began sharing notes and what emerged was something now described as a serial burglary ring dating back to March.
One key element set the break-ins apart, police said. In Winthrop, the five burglaries appeared to be the work of a smash-and-grab-style burglar. The break-ins in other towns — and a pair in other areas of Winthrop — appeared more professionally conducted, with alarm systems disabled before entry was gained.
In Winthrop, Struck zeroed in on a suspect in the smash-and-grab burglaries and made an arrest. Jed St. Hilaire, 36, of Winthrop, was charged with five counts of burglary and theft. There was no connection found to the wider burglary ring.
On Wednesday, Augusta police Deputy Chief Jared Mills issued a news release laying out the progress.
“Over the past few months, the Central Maine area has been victimized by a group of individuals who have been targeting commercial businesses in a serial burglary ring,” Mills wrote. “Based upon evidence collected from each crime scene, investigators were able to determine that approximately 30 of these burglaries were connected. The police departments in each jurisdiction have (been) collaborating, as we always do in these types of situations, to identify the suspects and bring them to justice.
On Tuesday, police said, investigators arrested one of their suspects, Michael Joseph Gagne, 38, of Augusta who, according to the release, was found while officers from Augusta, Winthrop, Monmouth and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office were executing search warrants in the area.
Gagne was arrested on a probation hold and taken to the Kennebec County Jail.
The investigation continues and police declined to disclose some details about the crimes and their efforts to solve them. One officer estimated that 15 detectives were involved in the probe.
He lauded Struck for “a lot of gumshoe-type investigating,” while Struck himself shrugged off the praise.
“A lot of sleepless nights,” was all he said of his efforts.
In his news release, Mills said one suspect was nearly caught while a burglary was in progress. He suggested that more arrests would be forthcoming.
“Because of everyone’s hard work,” Mills wrote, “the Augusta Police Department feels confident that they have identified the suspects involved in this serial burglary ring and will continue to work hard putting these cases together so that all responsible can be taken into custody and formally charged.”
mlaflamme@sunjournal.com
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