BAILEYVILLE – Two teen-agers were charged with burglary after a chase in which one of the two was seen running across a field with a cash register on his shoulder.

Police said a Baileyville man, William Berube, heard noise behind his house on Route 1 around 5 a.m. Tuesday and concluded that somebody might be trying to break into his garage.

Berube saw two males, later identified as Byron Sanford and Colby Benner, both 18 and of Baileyville, running across the field behind his home. “One of them was carrying a cash register on his shoulder,” said Police Chief Philip Harriman.

Berube gave chase and tried to catch one of the men, who apparently fell into a shallow well. But the male “scrambled out of the other end of the shallow well and [ran] into the woods,” the chief said.

But Berube didn’t stop. He began to search for the other man he had seen running across the field. “Mr. Berube located the second individual, who was trying to conceal himself in the tall grass,” Harriman said. It turned out to be Sanford. Berube took Sanford to his home and called police.

Officer Byron White requested support from the Calais Police Department’s K-9 unit, Officer Chris Donahue and his dog Major. The unit, along with White and another Baileyville police officer and a Border Patrol agent, followed tracks to a trailer on Maple Street where Benner, allegedly the one seen running with the cash register, was arrested.

Harriman said police discovered that McLaughlin’s Exxon gasoline station and convenience store, located a short distance from Berube’s house, had been broken into and that the cash register was missing. He said the register was empty and it appears nothing else was taken from the store. The incident remains under investigation.

Sanford and Benner have been charged with burglary and theft.

Although he does not encourage people to become involved in stopping a possible crime, Harriman praised Berube. “We believe that every citizen has the duty to assist us in our law enforcement efforts, and we do appreciate people who do report criminal activity and stand up and are counted,” he said.

Sanford and Benner appeared in 3rd District Court in Bangor on Wednesday. Sanford’s bail was set at $2,500 single surety or $250 cash. Benner’s bail was set at $5,000 single surety or $500 cash.

The two remained in the Washington County Jail on Thursday night.