SKOWHEGAN — Two brothers are under arrest in connection with a burglary last summer when thieves used a power saw to cut through three doors and a padlocked gate at a Water Street business.

Town officials later installed surveillance cameras throughout the downtown business district in response to the burglary and theft of white water rafting equipment.

The brothers, Marc Thomas Weston, 35, and Eric Thomas Weston, 38, both of Weston Avenue, Skowhegan, were arrested Friday.

Deputy Police Chief Dale Lancaster said property linked to the burglary at Rafting Randy’s Whitewater Supply in the town’s Renaissance Building and from Aubuchon Hardware, which also was broken into last summer, was discovered when police searched the men’s home.

The search warrant initially was related to a shoplifting case at Hannaford supermarket, Lancaster said.

He said once police were inside the home, they discovered other items related to a break-in in March at nearby buildings owned by Florida Light & Power and to last summer’s string of downtown burglaries.

Lancaster said police are working with the Somerset County district attorney as the investigation continues. He said the brothers are not yet charged with the downtown burglaries, only with possessing property taken in the break-ins.

Thieves in July made off with an estimated $4,500 in electronic equipment, rafting gear, cash and other items from the rafting company.

In December, the town installed 14 security cameras around the downtown area as a result of burglaries, including two in 2010. The cameras produce a live feed to a monitor in the police station

Eric Weston is charged with theft and two counts of theft by receiving stolen property. His brother Marc is charged with two counts of theft by receiving stolen property.

Both men remained held on $10,000 bond Wednesday at the Somerset County Jail in East Madison.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com

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