LEWISTON – Police arrested two teenagers Sunday night in connection with the theft of three dirt bikes in the Twin Cities within the last month.

Christopher Moreno, 18, of 500 Pownal Road, Auburn, and Jacob Dostie, 19, of 401 Pownal Road, Auburn, were apprehended after a 15-year-old boy recognized one of the motorcycles in the back of Moreno’s pickup truck.

“He just happened to be in the area of 17 Linda Circle, where the pickup truck was parked,” Sgt. Jeff Parshall said. “He thought that one of the two dirt bikes looked like one that was stolen from his friend.”

According to Parshall, the boy then called his friend’s father, Kenneth Blais, to report his suspicions. Blais drove to Linda Circle and confronted Moreno and Dostie about the bikes.

“The two suspects claimed they had no idea the bike was stolen and offered to follow Blais to his home on Highland Avenue in Lewiston to return the property,” Parshall said.

At 6:51 p.m., Blais had his wife call the police to report the recovery of his son’s dirt bike that was stolen from the corner of Farwell Street and Highland Avenue about a month before.

“He was suspicious of why these teens in possession of a stolen bike were so quick to return it,” Parshall said.

When the bike was stolen, it was chained to a tree with a for sale sign, according to Parshall.

Police arrived at the Highland Avenue residence Sunday and discovered that the other bike in the back of the truck had been stolen from Walnut Street in Auburn about three weeks ago.

Moreno and Dostie were taken to the Lewiston Police station, where they confessed after interrogation, Parshall said.

According to Parshall, the interrogation led to the discovery of a third bike, stolen from Walnut Street along with the other dirt bike, being held in Gilford.

“One of the suspects has a brother that lives in Gilford,” Parshall explained. “They dropped it off there sometime after they stole the two bikes from Walnut Street.”

Parshall said the two suspects spent some time switching “the plastic fenders, gas tanks, and anything plastic” on the two bikes stolen from Walnut Street in an attempt to make the colors differ from the descriptions provided by the vehicle registration numbers.

Parshall said the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department was in the process of recovering the bike in Gilford.

It was not known Sunday night if charges would be filed against the Gilford man.

Moreno was charged with felony theft, while Dostie was charged with receiving stolen property.

According to Parshall, the bikes seemed to be stolen solely for the purpose of riding them.

“They rode them pretty hard,” Parshall said. “One of the bikes was pretty much destroyed.”

Parshall credited the 15-year-old boy and Blais with the apprehension of Moreno and Dostie.

“It all started with an inquisitive kid who was paying attention,” Parshall said.