FREEPORT – Rainy weather sent shoppers pouring into Freeport, but a power outage left them in the dark.

Equipment damaged by vandalism failed at 2:20 p.m. Sunday, knocking out electricity to parts of four towns, including the Freeport business district, according to John Carroll, spokesman for Central Maine Power in Augusta.

L.L. Bean’s flagship store and other shops, outlets and gas stations were without electricity, but L.L. Bean didn’t close. The 24-hour store on Main Street remained open with auxiliary lighting.

CMP crews completed the repairs at 12:20 a.m. Monday after locating the problem along an 81/2-mile stretch between Freeport and Yarmouth, Carroll said.

Several ceramic insulators that prevent high voltage lines from coming into contact with the utility pole had been damaged by gunfire, Carroll said. Rain seeped into the insulators, causing the failure, the spokesman said.