AUGUSTA — Maine State Police say they will use aircraft, unmarked cruisers, and extra troopers beginning today and continuing throughout the week to patrol roadways during the Independence Day holiday week.

Col. Robert Williams, state police chief, said troopers will be looking for aggressive and impaired drivers as well as doing distracted-driving and seat-belt enforcement, according to a news release from Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

“Too many drivers are ignoring common sense by either texting or not using their seat belts and State Troopers will be paying special attention to those violations throughout the summer,” Williams said in the release. “Too many people are dying on Maine roads not using their seat belts and too many drivers are not paying attention to what they are doing.”

As of Thursday, 72 people had died on Maine roads during the year, which is more than at this time last year, according to a statement from the police.

Twenty-one people died in crashes this month, compared to 10 deaths for the month last year.

AUGUSTA

WEDNESDAY

At 2:19 p.m., a caller from the Family Medicine Institute, East Chestnut Street, reported harassment.

3:50 p.m., police responded to a report of a disorderly house on Bolton Hill Road.

3:52 p.m., a caller from Glenridge Gardens Apartments, Glenridge Drive, reported burglary from a motor vehicle.

9:35 p.m., a caller from Walgreens, Water Street, reported attempted shoplifting.

THURSDAY

At 9:47 p.m., fraud offenses were reported by someone who came to the Augusta Police Department, Union Street.

11:12 a.m., an Augusta woman, 51, was issued a summons at Maine Smoke Shop, Western Avenue, charging her with theft, shoplifting.

CHINA

WEDNESDAY

At 1:17 p.m., theft was reported at Tobey’s Market on Route 3.

GARDINER

WEDNESDAY

At 6:49 p.m., theft was reported on Winter Street.

8:18 p.m., theft was reported on Brunswick Avenue.

THURSDAY

At 8:42 a.m., theft was reported at Highland Avenue Terrace.

MOUNT VERNON

WEDNESDAY

At 12:08 p.m., a caller reported larceny from a building.

PITTSTON

WEDNESDAY

At 10:07 a.m., criminal mischief was reported on Route 126.

VIENNA

WEDNESDAY

At 4:43 p.m., a caller reported theft.

Arrests

AUGUSTA

WEDNESDAY

At 5:21 p.m., Joel Richard Cloutier, 23, of Mount Vernon, was arrested during a traffic stop at Kmart, Western Avenue, on charges of unlawful possession of hydrocodone and sale and use of drug paraphernalia.

8:16 p.m., Kenneth Mathis, 45, of Augusta, was arrested at Cote’s Apartments, Water Street, on charges of domestic-violence assault, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer.

10:02 p.m., Shelly L. Kilmer, 49, of Augusta, was arrested on South Belfast Avenue following a report of a domestic disturbance. Kilmer is charged with domestic-violence criminal threatening, domestic-violence reckless conduct, and domestic-violence assault.