During the late hours of 2-26-2009 the Giant Panda Restaurant on Rte 1 in East Machias was forcibly entered. Burglars fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money and other property.
During the early morning hours of 3-23-2009 Uncle Kippy's Restaurant on Route 189 in Lubec, Murphy's Restaurant, The American Legion Lubec Post, and Rahilly's Redemption Center were burglarized. All of the businesses were forcibly entered and 3 of the 4 businesses suffered significant losses..
During the late hours of 4-7-09 Sheer Perfection and Designs By Aaron in Machias was forcibly entered. Several thousand dollars worth of jewelry and an undisclosed amount of money were stolen.
On 04-20-2009 and 04-26-2009 the same residence in Machias was broken into during the daylight hours. As a result of this daytime breaks an undisclosed amount of money and other items were stolen. This residence was cased and entered when the owner was away at work.
On 5-27-09 Adrian Simmons age 23 of Machias was arrested for Burglary. On 5-29-09 Priscilla Tenney age 26 of Machias and Walter Heathcote age 20 of Biddeford were arrested for Burglary.
On 5-29-09 Kristopher Preston age 22 of Roque Bluffs was charged with Burglary. Sheriff Smith expects that other arrests are anticipated in the next several days.
Walter Heathcote and Adrian Simmons were arrested for the burglary and theft at the Giant Panda in East Machias on 2-26-09. Walter Heathcote and Priscilla Tenney were arrested for the residential burglary and theft in Machias on 4-20-09. Walter Heathcote was soley responsible for the residential burglary and theft in Machias on 4-26-09. Walter Heathcote, Kristopher Preston, and other persons were responsible for the 4 burglary and thefts in Lubec on 3-23-09. Walter Heathcote was solely responsible for the burglary and theft at Sheer Perfection in Machias on 4-7-09. The names of the other co-defendants are not being released at this time.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office, Troopers from the Maine State Police, and the Machias Police Department worked hand in hand to solve these cases. Several days and hundreds of man hours went into solving these cases.
