FORT KENT — A bottle drive for a fake charity and a rash of roadside potato stand thefts during the last week have resulted in charges being filed against five Fort Kent area people.

On Sept. 22, three Fort Kent area young people, one of them a juvenile, conducted a bottle drive from Madawaska through Frenchville and St. Agatha. They told people the money was for a cancer fund.

Police did not know how much money was collected. The youths did, however, cash a check they received from one donor to buy gasoline in Madawaska.

Charged were Troy Soucy, 19, of Daigle Village, Sandra Fortin, 18, of Fort Kent and an unnamed Fort Kent juvenile.

On Sept. 27, two young people, one a juvenile, took money from roadside potato stands in Fort Kent, Frenchville and Madawaska. The stands were owned by Alban Bouchard at Fort Kent, Michael Dumais at Frenchville and John Michaud at Madawaska.

On their route, they also took two lawn statues, valued at $32 and $58, from Euclide Bourgoin’s nursery at Frenchville and merchandise from Ames and Kmart department stores at Madawaska.

Arrested for that spree was Vanessa Cote, 18, of Fort Kent and a 17-year-old juvenile.

The five were charged with theft, said Police Chief Kenneth Michaud.