A 21-year-old Veazie man was caught attempting to steal gasoline from a vehicle on State Street on Sept. 3, but he was not taken to jail because he had left his children home alone, Sgt. Keith Emery of the Veazie Police Department said Tuesday.

Mark Derouin was seen on Sept. 3 attempting to steal gasoline by cutting a gas line on a vehicle near the Stone House Cafe, according to Emery. Derouin told police he had left his two children at home alone, so Emery charged him with criminal mischief and released him at the scene.

Police said they later discovered that Derouin had broken into a shed behind the restaurant from which he allegedly stole the tools he was using in his attempt to steal the gas. On Sept. 4, Derouin was charged with felony burglary and taken to Penobscot County Jail. He has since been released, a jail official said.

If convicted of burglary, Derouin could face jail time of up to five years and a fine of up to $5,000. (Nok-Noi Ricker, BDN)

A Veazie couple returned home around 7 p.m. Monday to find their Flagg Street home had been broken into, according to the Veazie Police Department. The couple reported an estimated $6,300 in jewelry and rare coins had been taken, Sgt. Keith Emery said Tuesday.

The missing jewelry includes watches, earrings, necklaces, pearls, rosary beads and an unknown number of coins, Emery said.

No suspects have been named. Officer Paul Haslam is investigating the crime and was canvassing the neighborhood Tuesday to see if anyone saw anything. Anyone with information about the burglary should call Haslam at the Veazie Police Department at 947-2358. (Nok-Noi Ricker, BDN)