Man, youth accused of stealing from cars Burglary ring took items from unlocked vehicles

BREWER – Police have begun dismantling a car burglary ring that has victimized at least three communities, stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of items, officials announced.

A transient man, Wade Jacobs, 21, and one 14-year-old transient male, who have most recently been staying at a home on Rinfret Drive in Brewer, have been arrested after police seized more than $1,000 worth of items from the home where they were staying, Brewer police Cpl. Roger Hershey said. Officials in Bangor and Brewer now are searching for at least five other individuals who were involved in the burglary ring.

“We’re not releasing their names at this time as this is still under investigation,” Hershey said.

A string of car burglaries in the Oak Grove and Clover Lane sections of north Brewer in the last 10 days has had local officials working feverishly, Hershey said. Among the items stolen were cell phones and chargers, soccer jerseys and equipment, sneakers, a television, tool cases and radio equipment.

“Anything you could find in these unlocked vehicles, they were taking. … They didn’t break into any vehicles,” Hershey said. “People need to remember to lock their car doors.”

Police had been searching for a stolen motorcycle taken from a State Street residence when it was found farther down the street, hidden by camouflage, Hershey said. As a result of the ensuing investigation, officials were led to the Rinfret Drive home on Sunday.

At the home, police searched a vehicle with the consent of the owner, Hershey said. Hershey, Cpl. Levi Sewall and Officer John Knappe found stereos that had been reported stolen from Hampden and Bangor. A search of the home of the car’s owner found additional stolen items.

Jacobs and the 14-year-old confessed to the thefts, including soccer sneakers and jerseys that they were wearing when police talked to them, Hershey said. Jacobs also admitted to Brewer police Detective Fred Luce that he had stolen the motorcycle with the intent to sell off its parts.

Nearly 80 percent of the items stolen in Brewer were recovered, Hershey said. Many items, however, were spread out among the burglary ring members, who are believed to be residing in Bangor. It is unknown, however, how many thousands of dollars’ worth of items were taken from other area communities.

The charges against the juvenile were not immediately available. Jacobs, however, was charged with five counts of burglary to a motor vehicle, one county of burglary and one count of theft. He was taken to Penobscot County Jail Sunday evening and has since been released on bail.

“The owner of the home wasn’t charged,” Hershey said. “It appears he either didn’t know what was going on or was being intimidated.”