Three police agencies are investigating weekend burglaries at the Fayette Town Office, Top of the Hill Grill in New Sharon and Athena’s restaurant in Wilton. Money, tools, town checks and a computer were among the items taken, police said.
It is the second time in about a month that the Town Office was hit. This time, there was a lot more damage.
The main door was jimmied open to gain access, Kennebec Sheriff Chief Deputy Randall Liberty said Monday. Town employees discovered the break-in Monday morning
Liberty said drawers and cabinets were opened, and suspects rifled through the office.
They also ripped a hole in the steel door leading to a safe after they couldn’t get in because the door had a deadbolt on it, Liberty said.
“They spent some time on it,” he said.
They tried to get into the safe but couldn’t, Liberty said.
Taken were some town checks, a new Dell computer and a digital camera, he said.
Liberty estimated $600 in damage was done to the doors.
Liberty said the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department is working with state police, who handled the break-in late on Dec. 27 or early on Dec. 28. That time, about $10 in change was taken, as well as a video recording device. The New Sharon Town Office was hit at that time as well, and a safe with about $400 and town papers was stolen. The safe was recovered without the money.
They have some leads in the cases, he said.
Liberty said they would also be working with Franklin County Sheriff’s Department to see if there are any similarities in its burglaries.
Franklin County Lt. Niles Yeaton said access to the Top of the Hill Grill restaurant was gained through a side entrance. That burglary was reported just before 5 a.m. Sunday, Yeaton said Monday.
An undisclosed amount of cash and a couple of power tools were stolen and cash registers were damaged, Yeaton said.
The restaurant had closed at 2:45 p.m. Saturday.
Some physical evidence was preserved at the crime scene, he said.
Wilton Police Chief Wayne Gallant said entry into Athena’s restaurant was gained through the rear of the building. An undisclosed amount of money was taken and some small miscellaneous items were taken, Gallant said Monday.
The report of that break-in was made Sunday morning.
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