FARMINGTON — Police have issued a warrant for a local man who they believe broke into the Care and Share Food Closet on Fairbanks Road twice this week.

The suspect was seen by police inside of the food pantry early Wednesday morning, but fled into the woods before the officer could make contact, Farmington Police Sgt. Michael Adcock said.

Police have issued a warrant for a local man believed to have broken into the Care and Share Food Closet twice this week. Between $200 and $300 in food items was stolen from the food pantry. Staff photo by Lauren Abbate

Police believe the same man broke into that food pantry Sunday morning. About $200 to $300 worth of food was taken.

The man, who Adcock says lives in the area, was seen by Officer Justin Blais around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday walking along Fairbanks Road.

Given the time of day and the fact that the man was dressed in all black, Blais found the man’s behavior suspicious. After losing sight of the man, Blais went to conduct a building search on the nearby food pantry. When he arrived, he saw the man inside the food pantry.

While Blais called for assistance, the man fled on foot into the woods.

Adcock said that the man is known to the Farmington Police Department, and that they have dealt with him before. After Wednesday morning’s break-in, a warrant for the man’s arrest was issued.

The food pantry notified Farmington police of the first break-in on Monday night. The food pantry was closed at the time of the break-in, and surveillance footage revealed the break-in occurred early Sunday morning. Adcock said he believes food pantry volunteers noticed the missing food when they were doing inventory on Monday.

It is not known if food was stolen when the suspect broke into the pantry on Wednesday.

Both times the suspect forced entry into the locked food pantry through the back door.

Adcock is hopeful police would be able to locate the man Wednesday.

Lauren Abbate — 861-9252

labbate@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @Lauren_M_Abbate

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