A Skowhegan woman was arrested Wednesday in connection with allegations that she had pried open a family member’s safe with a crowbar and stolen $22,000 in cash from it, police said.

Jaclyn S. Rutherford, 28, was charged with class B theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, and class D criminal mischief, according to a news release from Skowhegan police Chief Donald Bolduc. The theft had occurred at a residence on Waterville Road in Skowhegan, where Rutherford was living with relatives. Skowhegan police allege that Rutherford stole the cash from the safe, which was in a closet, and that the crowbar used to pry the safe open was found in Rutherford’s bedroom at the home.

Rutherford was arrested about Wednesday 4:30 p.m. by the Oakland Police Department on a temporary warrant issued by Skowhegan police in connection with the theft.

Police allege that when Rutherford was arrested, she was carrying about $17,000 in cash and had a one-way train ticket to Chicago.

“Jaclyn admitted to stealing the money and had plans to permanently leave Maine to live in a warmer climate,” Bolduc said in the release.

Rutherford was taken to the Somerset County Jail in East Madison, where bail was set at $40,000 cash, according to a jail intake worker.


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