WILTON – A burglary late Wednesday night at Gould’s Service Station on Route 2 was similar to some other recent area burglaries, Police Chief Wayne Gallant said Thursday.
The break-in was discovered at about 4 a.m. Thursday by Sam Nichol, who works at the service station. Station owner Dan Gould said there was damage to the door, which was pried open, and to his desk. He said some tools were stolen from the building. Gallant said that a small amount of cash was also missing Thursday morning.
Gallant said that while processing the scene of the crime, he and Wilton officers Robert Cole Jr. and Terry Warren found “some evidence” that may link the crime to other recent burglaries, including the Jan. 29 break-in at Athena’s Restaurant and a heist last weekend at the Paris Farmers Union in Jay. When he noted the similarities, Gallant said, the Wilton Police Department activated the local Property Crime Task Force, which brings officers and investigators together from the Wilton, Jay, and Farmington police departments, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, and the Maine State Police.
“It appears that some evidence we’re coming across may link (the thefts) together,” Gallant said. “So we’re putting together all our notes, hoping to find that one weak link that’s going to put us closer to the person or people involved.”
Gallant said he and the other officers on the case are hoping for help from area residents in solving case. It’s like “putting together jigsaw puzzles,” Gallant explained. As investigators gather evidence from the Gould’s burglary, he said, the bits and pieces start to come together, though they often don’t make sense at first. “If you can find those pieces, you’re gong to be able to know what that puzzle’s supposed to be,” he said.
Investigators are hoping area people will phone or e-mail them if they have seen or heard anything strange lately
“Maybe somebody that lived nearby heard something – a noise, or some banging – and didn’t think much of it. That (could be) important for us as investigators, because it gives us a time frame.
“Lots of pieces don’t make any sense, but they still (come together) to make a complete picture.” He said he encourages anyone who has seen something and doesn’t feel comfortable calling their local police department to go to the Property Crime Task Force Web site at www.propertycrimes.com and send an anonymous e-mail to “any and all of the law enforcement agencies in the three-county area.”
A few hours after the investigators left the service station, Dan Gould said he was still very upset about the robbery.
“We got broken into,” he said, and some tools were stolen. “That’s what I make my living with, you know?”
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