Police are investigating recent burglaries at businesses in Jay, Sabattus and Winthrop where missing items include cash and 200 cannabis joints.
Police Chief Richard Caton IV said an employee at the Big Apple store at the CN Brown Service Station at 94 Main St. reported a break-in about 6:55 a.m. Tuesday. Police learned an undisclosed amount of cash was missing.
Two other burglaries April 12 were reported at LaFleur’s Restaurant at 224 Main St. and the now-closed Yianni’s House of Pizza at 206 Main St. Caton said all three break-ins in Franklin County are under investigation, and it is not clear if they are all related. He said his department is working with other departments on the cases.
Deputy Chief William Gagne of the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office in Auburn said his department is investigating several commercial burglaries.
“Our detectives have been working with detectives from other jurisdictions,” Gagne said, “… but I am limited to what can be released where it is an ongoing investigation.”
Sabattus police took to Facebook Sunday morning asking the public for help identifying a man shown on surveillance footage breaking into Fielder’s Choice Ice Cream at 637 Sabattus Road. Still shots show a hooded man with a face covering wielding a large crowbar.
The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office shared the post on its Facebook page.
In the early hours of Monday, four businesses at Winthrop’s strip mall at 357 Main St. reported burglaries. Focus on Beauty hair salon, China Empress restaurant and Winthrop Workspace office all reported missing cash. Earth Keeper Cannabis reported around 200 cannabis joints worth about $1,200 were stolen. Telephone and internet lines were cut prior to gaining entry, police said.
Later that morning, Fast Eddie’s Drive-in restaurant at 1308 US Route 202, about two miles from the strip mall in Kennebec County, reported a tip jar with about $17 in cash was stolen.
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