SKOWHEGAN – Two brothers released from prison in the past 12 months after serving lengthy sentences for burglary and theft were arrested Monday and charged with committing more of the same crimes.

Robert Tucker, 33, and his brother Scott Tucker, 28, both of Hartland, each were charged with 10 counts of burglary and theft, which represents just a fraction of the burglaries police say the brothers allegedly pulled off in four counties – all during the daytime.

Officials said at least $10,000 in cash and coins was taken over the past five months.

The Tucker brothers were released within seven months of each other after serving similar eight-year prison terms for burglaries and thefts, said Detective Sgt. Carl Gottardi III of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department. Almost immediately, police began receiving numerous reports of daytime burglaries throughout Somerset County.

“It looks like they picked up right where they left off,” said Gottardi.

Safes and other items, including cash and coins, were taken from dozens of homes after the brothers allegedly entered through unlocked doors or kicked doors in when residents were not at home.

At one of three burglaries in Embden in a single day, the brothers allegedly stole a large generator and managed to get it into their compact car, said Gottardi.

“At the next residence, they stole a very large safe and were forced to unpack the generator and leave it behind to fit the safe in the car,” he said.

At least twice, said Gottardi, homeowners returned and interrupted the burglaries but could not identify the Tucker brothers.

During recent drug investigations, however, information was obtained by Gottardi and Deputy Thomas Rourke that led to Monday’s arrests. Gottardi said the brothers have a drug habit that includes OxyContin, heroin and cocaine and were pulling off burglaries to support their drug use. Many of the homes they hit were ransacked, but potentially salable items were passed over in favor of cash and coins.

The burglaries took place from May to September in Somerset County at Embden, Palmyra, Pittsfield, Athens, Ripley and Cambridge; Penobscot County at Newport; Piscataquis County at Abbott and Monson; and in Kennebec County at Clinton. Each brother was charged with 10 counts of burglary and theft, but Gottardi said he expected many more charges eventually would be lodged against them.

Gottardi said some of the stolen safes were recovered in wooded areas in Hartland, St. Albans, Solon and Athens. Personal papers from the victims were still inside, although some were damaged by weather.

Robert Tucker is being kept on a probation hold at Somerset County Jail while Scott Tucker was released on bail, pending communication with his probation officer, said Gottardi.

It was the second time Gottardi arrested the Tucker brothers. He extradited them from New Hampshire in 1994 after they fled prosecution for similar burglaries and thefts in Somerset County. They were sentenced to 10 years in prison each and were released after eight years. Robert Tucker was released in May 2003 and Scott Tucker was released in October 2002, said Gottardi.