NORWAY — An apparent plan to steal beer from Cumberland Farms was undone by the weather Tuesday morning when police tracked a suspect through fresh snow to a party at a nearby apartment.

Francis R. Clark, 20, of Woodstock was charged with theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of alcohol by consumption; Samantha J. Male, 19, who lives in the apartment, was charged with hindering apprehension and furnishing a place for minors to drink.

Officer Ron Cole of the Norway Police Department said the store reported a man took an 18-pack of Budweiser without paying just before 6 a.m.

Cole and Officer Jeff Campbell followed fresh tracks from the store to an apartment at 73 Beal St.

Cole said he and Campbell knocked on the door for 15 to 20 minutes, “Just pounding on the door,” he said. “We announced ourselves and called her by name. The neighbors were calling her by name, trying to get her to open up, and she wouldn’t.”

When they finally got inside, they found Clark and several other minors who were summoned to appear in court for possession of alcohol by consumption. Alcohol containers were all over the apartment, police said. Clark was intoxicated, Cole said, but Male was sober.

Clark was charged with theft. Bail was set at $1,000 unsecured bond. He was summoned for possession of alcohol by consumption and possession of drug paraphernalia, both civil offenses.

Male was charged with hindering apprehension for not opening the door and furnishing a place for minors to drink because no one else admitted bringing alcohol to the apartment. Her bail was set at $500 unsecured bond.

Both have been released from the Oxford County Jail.

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