Two stolen handguns were recovered after an Augusta man was arrested on charges connected to three motor vehicle burglaries at a Waterville motel earlier this week.

Keith Arvanitis, 40, was arrested Thursday, the same day as the burglaries, at his home at 335 Water St., Apt. 1, by officers from three agencies, according to Chief Joseph Massey of the Waterville Police Department.

Massey said today the windshields of all three vehicles were smashed around 5:30 a.m. Thursday while their owners slept at a motel on Kennedy Memorial Drive.

Massey declined to identify the motel in the interest of protecting the victims, vehicles and property from further criminal activity.

Ammunition was also recovered among other items stolen in the burglaries when Arvanitis was arrested, Massey said.

Massey said it was very concerning to police that a Walther .380 semiautomatic handgun, a Ruger semiautomatic 45-caliber handgun and ammunition were among the items stolen. Computer equipment, construction tools, fishing poles, cartons of cigarettes and food also were taken, he said.

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An investigation by Detective Duane Cloutier and Detective Sgt. Bill Bonney determined Arvanitis had been seen in the area where the burglaries occurred and had taken a cab to Vassalboro afterward, Massey said.

When the detectives later spoke with a woman identified as Arvanitis’ girlfriend in Vassalboro and found some of the stolen items there, Massey said.

The handguns and ammunition were recovered when Augusta and Waterville police as well as Maine Drug Enforcement agents arrested Arvanitis at his Augusta apartment, Massey said.

Arvanitis was charged with three counts of class C felony motor vehicle burglary, two counts of class B felony theft of a firearm, one count of class C felony possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of class E theft by unauthorized taking or transfer.

Bail was set on all charges at $13,250 cash with special conditions, including that Arvanitis not return to the Waterville or Vassalboro city limits.

He was unable to make bail and was taken to Kennebec County Jail in Augusta.

Arvanitis is scheduled to appear Sept. 10 in Kennebec County superior Court.

Amy Calder — 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com


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