AUGUSTA — Police have arrested an Augusta man on charges of stealing several motor vehicles over the past few months.

Carl Jackson, 25, was charged with six counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and five counts of felony theft, after police acted on two search warrants Monday and Tuesday and obtained evidence related to the vehicle thefts.

Several motor vehicles were reported stolen in Augusta over the past few months, said Deputy Chief Jared Mills, of the Augusta police, in a news release. The vehicles were recovered shortly after being stolen, found in the woods or gravel pits. Some of them were damaged, while others were left intact.

Mills said evidence from the vehicles, as well as assistance from citizens, led detectives to Jackson.

Jackson was arrested Friday for an alleged probation violation and taken to the Kennebec County jail. He was charged Tuesday in connection with the vehicle thefts and is being held at the jail with no bail, according to Mills.

Jackson was convicted in Kennebec County of a felony charge of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer and sentenced Nov. 22, 2016, to three years in jail, with all but the initial 45 days suspended, while he spends two years on probation.

Earlier this month Augusta police, in a news release, warned commuters, residents and visitors about ongoing vehicle thefts in the area, many of which involved vehicles that had been left, on private property, unlocked and with keys inside them. Police advised people to lock their vehicles and secure their keys, and they asked for help from anyone who might have had information about the thefts.

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