BELFAST – Detectives assigned to a Waldo County task force have cracked a burglary ring believed to be responsible for dozens of break-ins in four counties over the past five months.

Jeremy Bishop, 34, Brenda Frost, 32, and Danielle Morin, 34, all of Swanville, have been arrested in connection with the case. A male juvenile also is expected to be charged in the next few days.

The group is accused of burglarizing town offices, private residences, businesses and churches. In all cases, they were looking for cash or items they could sell. They forced their way into buildings using tools and breaking windows. Some of the property taken in the break-ins has been recovered, including a safe and cash register found by the Maine State Police dive team in separate bodies of water.

The ring is believed to have committed 42 burglaries in Waldo, Kennebec, Hancock and Penobscot counties from June through October.

Waldo County Chief Deputy Robert Keating and Belfast Police Chief Jeffrey Trafton credited the task force composed of Waldo County sheriff’s Detective Jason Bosco, Belfast police Detective Michael McFadden and Maine State Police Detective Jason Andrews with solving the case.

Trafton said Friday that not only did the task force’s investigation uncover the Bishop-Frost-Morin burglary ring, it also resulted in solving more than a dozen other burglaries in the region.

“They cleared some other burglaries while working this case,” Trafton said during a news conference at the sheriff’s office Friday. “There are several people in that jail over there because of their work.”

Trafton said the detectives worked day and night on the case and got their big break on Sunday.

They worked through the night following up leads that resulted in the arrest of Bishop on a probation violation at 2 a.m. Monday. Frost was arrested Thursday on two counts each of burglary and theft. Morin was arrested Friday afternoon on two counts of burglary and theft.

“When you get a break in a case like this, you want to work the lead when it’s hot, and that is what these officers did,” Trafton said.

The ring allegedly was responsible for burglaries in Augusta, South China, Belmont, Belfast, Northport, Thorndike, Freedom, Swanville, Searsport, Prospect, Frankfort, Orrington, Bucksport, Blue Hill and Ellsworth. Some of the town offices, churches and residences were hit more than once, Keating said.

“We’re very proud of the work done by these officers,” he said. “Their tenacity never let up.”

McFadden said state troopers, deputies from Penobscot, Hancock and Kennebec counties, and officers from the Belfast, Bangor, Ellsworth and Bucksport police departments provided assistance and shared information with the task force.

wgriffin@bangordailynews.net

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