Thieves make off with catalytic converters
AUGUSTA — Vehicle owners beware: Catalytic converters are back as hot ticket items for thieves.

City police have received three reports of catalytic converters being stolen from Toyota 4Runners over the past two days.

“Some of them were in broad daylight,” Lt. Chris Massey said.

The latest theft was reported at 2:56 p.m. Thursday at Cony High School. Massey said the part was stolen while the driver, a student, was at school.

The two others were taken from Toyotas parked on Laurel Street and on East Chestnut Street.

Massey asked anyone who sees someone looking suspicious around vehicles to call police. He also said that some areas in Knox County might be dealing with similar thefts. If you see anybody in the area looking suspicious, call local police.

Catalytic converters contain precious metals, such as platinum, palladium, rhodium or gold, to process and remove harmful pollutants. They’re prized targets for thieves because they can fetch good prices at metal recycling centers.

A sweries of catalytic converter thefts occurred in the Kennebec County area several years ago.

Three-vehicle crash injures several people
AUGUSTA — Several people suffered minor injuries in a three-vehicle crash at about 1:45 p.m. Thursday on Route 3 near Bicentennial Park. 

Lt. Chris Massey, of the Augusta police, said the crash occurred near a construction zone, where several cars were  stopped, and a car came around a corner too fast and struck one vehicle in the rear and pushed that vehicle into another.

Massey said motorists need to be extra vigilant with so much roadwork and pipeline installation underway.

AUGUSTA

Wednesday

At 6:18 p.m., a 25-year-old Augusta woman was issued a summons charging her with criminal trespass and criminal mischief after police responded to a call at Central Maine Property Management, on Middle Street.

8:34 p.m., a 23-year-old Chelsea woman was issued a summons at Walmart, Civic Center Drive, on a charge of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer.

11:51 p.m., theft was reported by a caller from Asset Management, Mount Vernon Avenue.

Thursday

At 8:19 a.m., a called from MaineGeneral Medical Center, East Chestnut Street, reported theft.

12:23 p.m., a caller from York Street reported criminal mischief.

3:20 p.m., a caller from Mobil on the Run, Bangor Street, reported an incident of counterfeiting.

HALLOWELL

Thursday

At 10:02 a.m., a caller from the Riverfront Bulkhead, Water Street, reported lost property.

FAYETTE

Monday

A burglary was reported on Point Drive. A camp was broken into sometime after Sept. 24 and tools, candles flashlights and a DVD player were taken. The burglars gained entry by cutting padlocks and prying windows open, according to reports from Maine State Police.

LITCHFIELD

Saturday

A dump truck took down a section of telephone and fiber optic cables on Route 27, and one utility pole was broken. No injuries were reported.

Wednesday

At 11:05 p.m., a caller from Richmond Road reported theft.

MOUNT VERNON

Monday

A caller reported two burglaries on Oak Tree Trail.

Wednesday

At 3:59 p.m., a Bean Road caller reported a burglary.

Arrests

Augusta

Wednesday

At 6:29 p.m., Anna M. L. Morin, 31, of Knox, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, loud noise, private place, after police responded to a call about a disturbance at Miller Apartment Building on Bridge Street.

Thursday

At 3:09 p.m., Jeffrey Scott Smith, 46, of Augusta, was issued a summons at the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office on State Street.

WAYNE

Wednesday

At 11:59 a.m., Ryan Bradford Ellis, 32, of Temple, was arrested on a warrant on Main Street.

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