FARMINGTON — Racheal Laforge and Cory Arsenault never used to lock their doors when they were at home.

That is, until a crime spree struck their quiet rural neighborhood, shattering the couple’s sense of personal safety.

Their home was among the four houses broken into on Halloween, including one where a couple was held at gunpoint by three masked men, police said.

Laforge, 26, was out trick-or-treating with her five children when their home was robbed. Shortly after they left, she got a call from her 28-year-old fiancé, who had discovered the break-in, she said.

“It’s not an experience I ever want to go through again,” she said Thursday, recalling her shock and fear after the call.

The couple learned the next day about the other break-ins. Police reported that another couple, ages 65 and 63, had been threatened at gunpoint during one of the robberies.

Hearing about the armed robbery made it worse for Laforge, who had been thinking about how close she was to facing the same terrifying scenario.

“If (the robbers) were able to hold a gun up to an elderly person, what would they have done if me and my kids came home during that same time?” she said. “It’s so scary to think about.”

The couple has since met with other neighbors, including Cory Arsenault’s parents, who live in a house down the road. Everyone is gripped by the same fears, talking about taking self-defense classes, installing alarm systems and doing anything to feel safe again, the couple said.

“I never locked my doors when I was home before, but it’s been locked ever since and it will be locked for the rest of my life,” Laforge said.

Three men have been arrested and face multiple charges in connection with the crime spree, which spanned several hours and included the break-ins and an armed robbery and kidnapping, police said.

Armed with handguns and knives, the men, wearing black ski masks, knocked on a Seamon Road home’s door around 6:45 p.m.

The couple opened the door, mistaking the men for trick-or-treaters. The men forced their way inside the home, eventually forcing the husband to drive two of the robbers to an ATM while his wife remained at gunpoint back at the house, police said.

The men eventually fled the home after threatening to kill the couple if they reported the crime, police said. The husband declined to comment about the incident when reached by phone.

Deputy Chief Shane Cote on Thursday addressed the fears raised by residents, something he has done during the last year after more violent crimes started to strike the town of about 7,760 residents.

He hosted a public safety forum for residents after the slaying of 81-year-old Grace Burton. She was fatally stabbed during a home invasion this summer. State police continue to investigate the unsolved homicide.

There have also been several other break-ins within the town and surrounding communities in which people were assaulted, which prompted the town’s police department to host the forum, Cote said. He didn’t have statistics on crime rates Thursday.

Take safety precautions

He characterized the armed robbery Monday as a crime that has to be taken seriously, showing people they should always be vigilant of their personal safety. He recommended people should take safety precautions, especially whenever opening their doors to strangers.

Residents should have a clear view of anyone who knocks on the door. There should be good outdoor lighting around the house and doors should be kept locked, even when residents are home, Cote said.

Cote described the armed robbery Monday as having unique circumstances, since people expect strangers to be knocking on the door on Halloween. But people should always try to identify a stranger before opening the door, he said.

Despite a rise in recent years of people being hurt during break-ins, residents should know that these crimes are still rare in town, Cote said.

“It’s still a safe community,” he said.

“Typically these burglaries and thefts are not crimes against people, (the criminals) are looking for things to steal and sell,” he said. “They would rather not have interaction with anybody.”

When asked what people should do if confronted by an intruder, Cote recommended following the example of the incident on Monday night.

“Do exactly what these people did: cooperate,” he said.

Three men — Kevin S. Crandall, 27, of Wilton, and Marcus A. Thompson, 26, of Farmington, and Michael E. Kidd Jr., 20, of Chesterville — were arrested in connection with the invasion and the other break-ins in the neighborhood, police said.

All three men face charges of robbery, kidnapping and criminal threatening, with each charge citing specific laws that ask for more severe punishment because a firearm was used. They also each face multiple counts of burglary and theft. The kidnapping and robbery charges alone each carry a 30-year maximum prison sentence, along with other conditions.

Crandall and Kidd also face charges of violating conditions of bail, since they were awaiting court dates on other unrelated charges.

During the three men’s arraignment this week, Franklin County Assistant District Attorney James Andrews said Kidd was out on bail tied to charges of trafficking in scheduled drugs.

Before his arrest on the new charges, Kidd had been released from jail on $100 cash bail, according to court documents.

He was being held in Franklin County Detention Center in Farmington on Thursday, after a judge set his bail at $50,000 tied to the new charges. His next court date is Nov. 10.

Andrews, who is handling the prosecution for all three men, said Crandall had multiple prior convictions for crimes dating back to 2007. They are two counts of violating conditions of release, operating under the influence, possessing scheduled drugs, cultivating marijuana, Andrews said.

Crandall was awaiting a court date for multiple charges stemming from an incident in September at the McDonald’s in Farmington, according to court documents. He faces charges of disorderly conduct, domestic violence assault, criminal mischief and violating conditions of release, court documents state.

During that incident, police accused Crandall of assaulting the mother of his child and other disorderly conduct. Crandall also is accused of kicking out the window of a police cruiser after being taken into custody, court documents state.

Before being arrested on the new charges, Crandall had been released from jail on $300 cash bail, court documents state.

He was also being held in Franklin County Detention Center in Farmington on Thursday, after a judge set his bail at $50,000 tied to the new charges, with his next court date set for Nov. 18.

Thompson had two previous convictions in 2005 for violating conditions of release and disorderly conduct, Andrews said this week. He was being held Thursday at the detention center on $30,000 cash bail, with his next court date set for Dec. 16.

David Robinson — 861-9287

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