LEWISTON — A transient man with a criminal history was arrested Thursday after allegedly breaking into two homes on Sabattus Street before being chased away by a homeowner.

Jason Folkner Androscoggin County Jail

Police were later able to use home surveillance footage to track down 49-year-old Jason Folkner, a transient who has previous history in Portland and Augusta. He was arrested on charges of burglary, vehicle burglary and two counts of theft.

The investigation began in the wee hours when a woman on outer Sabattus Street reported walking into her kitchen to find her purse missing and the room ransacked. It was also discovered, police said, that the burglar had stolen the woman’s vehicle.

Meanwhile, police received a report of a second break-in in the same area and some clues emerged.

“Later in the day, police received a call from a neighbor reporting that he awoke around 4 a.m. to find a male inside their residence,” according to a police news release. “The male suspect fled the residence once confronted by the homeowner. The homeowner was able to provide home surveillance footage of the suspect as he approached the residence.”

At about 11:30 a.m. police received information that one of the victims’ stolen credit cards had been used at a local business. Police responded at once and found Folkner in the area, according to the news release.

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The stolen vehicle was found in a business parking lot and the purse was discovered discarded a short distance away, police said.

Folkner was taken to the Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn, where bail was set at $2,500.

Folkner has been in previous legal trouble in various areas of Maine, particularly in and around Augusta. In 2018, he pleaded guilty to being part of a large drug conspiracy that brought drugs from Rochester, New York, to distribute in central Maine.

He was sentenced to 72 months in prison on those charges but was released later on federal probation.

In Lewiston, police were particularly concerned about the Thursday morning burglaries since the culprit was breaking into homes while residents were inside.

“The prompt response by Lewiston Police and the collaboration between the victims and local businesses helped bring a swift resolution to the case,” police wrote in the press release. “The investigation is ongoing, and authorities encourage anyone with additional information to contact Det. Brian Bourgoin at BBourgoin@lewistonmaine.gov.”

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