DOVER-FOXCROFT – Two Foxcroft Academy students were arrested Tuesday afternoon in connection with three break-ins at their school, the latest occurring over the weekend.

Ryan Porter, 18, of Dover-Foxcroft and a 16-year-old male juvenile were each charged with burglary and theft, according to Dover-Foxcroft police Chief Dennis Dyer. He said each also may face a charge of arson.

Porter, who told police he needed the money for Christmas, will make an initial court appearance Feb. 19 in 13th District Court in Dover-Foxcroft. He is being held at the Piscataquis County Jail.

The juvenile has been turned over to his parents.

Dyer said that between Saturday night and Sunday morning the pair broke a window to gain entry into the industrial arts building to get a set of acetylene torches. The pair carried the torches to the main floor of the academy where they attempted to burn down an office door to reach a safe, he said.

At some point, the pair abandoned the torches and worked to tunnel their way to the safe. After moving a set of lockers from the wall, they used tools to pound through the brick and Sheetrock wall, according to Dyer, and then one of the two crawled through the hole and into the safe.

About $1,000 in cash was taken from the safe and about $500 of that has been recovered, Dyer said. Five school credit cards also were taken.

Dyer said Detective Dave Preble received a call suggesting the pair may have been involved in the break-in. During an interview Tuesday, Porter admitted his involvement in the weekend break-in and in two other break-ins at the private school, Dyer said. The school educates SAD 68 pupils.

About two months ago, approximately $1,000 was taken from a cafeteria cash box during a break-in, and a small amount of cash was taken in another break-in a few weeks later.

Dyer praised the cooperation his department received from the Maine State Police, which assisted in the investigation.

It was not known Tuesday what action Foxcroft Academy trustees would take regarding the two students.