MEXICO – Arrest warrants have been issued for two men reportedly involved in a series of computer thefts and burglaries last year.

David Moore, 26, of Rumford, and Mark J. Radcliff, 38, address unknown, were indicted June 19 by the Oxford County grand jury. Moore is wanted on two felony burglaries, a felony theft, a misdemeanor theft and a charge of criminal mischief. Radcliff is wanted on the same charges.

Mexico Police Chief James Theriault said Monday that the cases against the two men involve burglaries at the Lawrence Goguen residence in Roxbury, the Donald MacPherson residence in Mexico and two thefts at what was then the new Mexico Wal-Mart.

Although police don’t know when the first burglary occurred at Goguen’s home, which is located on a road connecting Routes 17 and 120, the break-in was reported at 3:30 p.m. on March 6, 2002, by the owner’s grandson.

Items taken included a safe containing jewelry, commemorative coins and gold bars, valued at $1,000, and a filing cabinet of personal records. The dual criminal mischief charges stem from the fact that “there was stuff strewn all over Goguen’s house and they busted two windows to get in,” Theriault said. “On that same day, March 6, someone walking along Route 120 saw the safe, which had been thrown over a bank and was laying in the snow. None of the valuables were there, but the papers were recovered.”

Then, at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2002, Wal-Mart reported the theft of a Hewlett-Packard Pavillion computer system valued at $998. In that incident, Theriault said he believes that Radcliff entered the store, put the boxed system in a shopping cart and brazenly walked out of the store without paying for it.

“There were two systems stolen from Wal-Mart, but I don’t even think they knew about the first one. Moore did the first one and then told Radcliff how to do it so both were involved in each theft in a roundabout way,” Theriault said.

The Class B felony burglary and theft charges stem from the break-in at the MacPherson home on the Swift River Road because guns were taken, he said. That incident, which was reported at 3:20 a.m. on Sept. 13, 2002, is believed to have occurred between 2 a.m. on Sept. 12, and 3 a.m. on Sept. 13.

In addition to $200 in change, other items stolen included another HP computer system valued at $1,000, a $1,000 printer and two rifles, one valued at $500 and the other at $700.

“We’ve recovered bits and pieces of Goguen’s stuff, but none of the rest, although I have an idea where the rest of the stuff went,” Theriault said, declining to reveal that information.

Among the reasons cited by Theriault for the length of time it took to charge someone with the crimes was the fact that the department’s initial investigating officer went on sick leave for a long time.

“We don’t have the manpower or time to put into full-scale investigations, but sooner or later someone talks to us and it gets solved,” he added.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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