By Carol Coultas,Staff Writer

AUBURN – A heads-up move on the part of a South Witham Road woman resulted in the recovery of some stolen jewelry and the arrests of two men suspected of breaking into her home in broad daylight.

The woman, whom police declined to identify, was returning to her home around 11 a.m. Friday morning when she noticed an unfamiliar vehicle parked there. She drove on, called the police and gave them a description and license plate number of the suspicious vehicle.

After the vehicle left, the woman returned and found her home had been broken into. The interior was ransacked and jewelry missing.

She notified police again, who were searching the vicinity for the suspicious vehicle. Patrol Officers Steve Gosselin and Laurie Barrett stopped a vehicle matching the description on Sopers Mill Road.

They arrested two suspects: Michael L. Trepanier, 19, 169 Oxford St., Lewiston, and Todd M. Hall, 31, 155 Pleasant St. Both were charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief and taken to Androscoggin County Jail.

The jewelry – a pendant locket and watch – were recovered and returned to the homeowner.

“She did the smart thing,” said Lt. Tim Cougle, referring to the homeowner’s decision not to investigate on her own. “She continued on, jotting down the appropriate information. It was quick thinking.”

The men were released on $1,000 bail each. They have Aug. 10 court appearances.

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