GRAY – Police arrested three men, including two from Lewiston, in connection with more than a dozen commercial burglaries statewide.

Thieves targeted atms and safes at supermarkets, variety stores and two movie theaters dating back to last fall and stole more than $100,000 in cash.

At a press conference Monday, state police said the arrests resulted from cooperative efforts by city, state and county officers.

DNA left at one burglary scene gave police a match and the break they needed crack the case, Maine State Police Lt. Walter Grzyb said.

Arrested were:

• Kenneth Michael Childs, 31, of 10 Roberts Ave., Lewiston;

• Willis L. Jordan, 31, of 10 Roberts Ave., Lewiston; and

• Michael Warner, 30, of 1230 Shore Road, Cape Elizabeth.

Childs was charged with four counts of Class C burglary and released from Androscoggin County Jail on $2,000 bail.

Jordan was being held at Androscoggin County Jail on two warrants from Cumberland County Superior Court, one for Class C forgery and one for theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, a Class C felony.

Warner was held at Cumberland County Jail on a probation hold.

Grzyb said additional charges relating to the burglaries are expected. Additional arrests also may be coming, he said.

The thieves used sophisticated measures to avoid detection, including cutting phone lines and wearing gloves to protect against fingerprints and clothing to conceal their identifies from surveillance cameras. They also used sophisticated techniques to gain entry into safes and ATMs, Grzyb said.

Items stolen were untraceable. Cash stolen likely was not covered by insurance, Grzyb said.

“When it’s gone, it’s gone forever,” he said.

At least two of the suspects knew each other from jail, police said.

Police said 14 burglaries, stretching from Orono to Lebanon, and one attempted burglary (at the Lewiston Marden’s) used similar methods, tying the crimes together. Two of the burglarized stores were in Greene; one was in Turner; and one was in Gray.

Police said DNA collected at the scene of a burglary at a convenience store in Brunswick linked that case a month later to one of the suspects, who had a criminal record.

On Feb. 6, a task force meeting was held at the Lewiston Police Department, allowing investigators from city, state and county law enforcement to share information. The joint effort yielded information that eventually led to the arrests, police said.

“In the state of Maine, you can run, but you can’t hide,” Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department Detective Nelson Peters Jr. said. Two detectives at Lewiston Police Department were members of the task force.

“This investigation is truly a remarkable example of excellent police work, dedication and perseverance,” Grzyb said.

Police also are investigating burglaries in New Hampshire that might be connected to the Maine ring.

Besides cash, the thieves stole Marlboro cigarettes – apparently their favored brand – from the stores, Grzyb said.

At least one of four search warrants police executed in connection with the cases resulted in seizure of drugs and drug-related materials, Grzyb said.

Local burglaries include:

• IGA, Greene, Jan. 22;

• Schrepp’s convenience store, Turner, Feb. 6;

• Dead River convenience store, Gray, Feb. 27;

• Landry’s convenience store, Greene, Feb 10; and

• Marden’s (attempted) Lewiston, Nov. 11.