Presque Isle police probe burglary, theft incidents

PRESQUE ISLE – Police are investigating the removal of a 5- to 6-foot-tall change machine in one of two recent theft cases that took place in the city this week, according to Detective Sgt. Bill Campbell of the Presque Isle Police Department.

Police still are trying to determine whether the two crimes are related, Campbell said Tuesday.

The first incident, which took place sometime between Sunday and Monday morning, occurred at a Columbia Forest Products building on Missile Street. Employees noticed early Monday morning that the change machine, which was supposed to be mounted between two vending machines in the break room, was gone.

Campbell said employees assumed that the vending machine company had removed the brown machine, which is about as tall as an adult and is 1 foot wide and 2 feet deep. The detective said employees realized Tuesday morning when someone came by to stock the machines that it had been stolen.

Employees reported the incident to police, who conducted an investigation. Campbell, who was assisted at the scene by Officer Lynn Hartley, said it is not known how much money was in the machine. He said the crime carries a charge of criminal trespass and theft, both misdemeanors. The case is still under investigation.

A second incident occurred sometime Monday night or early Tuesday morning at the Department of Transportation garage on Rice Street. Campbell said police found signs of forced entry into the building and into an office there, though a minimal amount of damage was done. He said an undisclosed amount of cash was taken from the building.

Campbell said that police have leads and a suspect in the case. The crime carries a charge of burglary, a felony, and theft, a misdemeanor.

Campbell was assisted by Officers John York and Larry Fickett.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact the Presque Isle Police Department or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-638-8477.