Burglars caught in the act

Two women were arrested Dec. 18 on charges of vehicle burglary and “‘fessed up” to the charges, police report, but denied being involved other similar incidents throughout town this week.

Bree Rainey, 20, of Windham and Maegan Crowley, 20, of Portland allegedly broke into a vehicle parked in a church lot at 27 Ocean House Road.

Police say the women were in the midst of the burglary when the vehicle owner found them, at which point they fled the scene in a car.

They got away with a CD case, but the vehicle owner jotted down their license plate, according to police. The department traced the plate to Rainey’s home in Windham.

Rainey’s parents sent Rainey and Crowley to the Cape Police Department where “the ladies fessed up,” said Police Chief Neil Williams. Williams said the suspects did not admit to any other vehicle burglaries.

Rainey was charged with theft by unauthorized taking or transfer and Crowley was charged with criminal conspiracy. The women have not been charged for any of the other vehicle burglaries this week.

The log:

Dec. 11 at or about 2:50 p.m. I, Captain Sinclair, met a resident of the Old Ocean House Road area regarding a motor vehicle burglary. The yellow Nissan was parked at the Kettle Cove parking lot. Around 2:20 p.m., while the vehicle owner was taking a walk, the window was smashed. Taken was a purse containing a wallet, credit cards, and some cash. Three attempts were made to use the credit cards.

Dec. 9 at 4:00 a.m. I, Officer Gaudette, met with a resident of theBroad Cove area regarding a possible missing person. The subject, who had fallen asleep at a friends home after getting out of work, arrived home a short time later.

Dec. 9 I, Officer Gaudette, conducted a traffic stop on Route 77 after observing a motor vehicle violation. The operator, Nathaniel Russ of Portland had been summonsed for operating a motor vehicle with suspended registration, and had a court date. The vehicle was towed.

On Dec. 14 at 11:20 a.m. I, Officer Dorval, met with a resident of the Spurwink Avenue area regarding harassing phone calls.

On Dec. 13 I, Sergeant Fay, met with a resident of Portland regarding a motor vehicle burglary that occurred at approximately 4:45 p.m. in the parking lot of the Methodist Church on Ocean House Road. While the car-owner walked inside to retrieve her child from daycare, the window of her silver Honda was smashed and taken was a purse containing a driver’s license, cell-phone, credit cards and some cash.

On Dec. 13 I, Patrolman Thompson, met with a resident of the Shore Road area regarding a motor vehicle burglary that occurred just after 2 p.m. while the vehicle was parked at the Middle School. The window of the gold Dodge was smashed and taken was a purse containing a few debit and credit cards. There were attempts to use the credit cards in South Portland.

On 16 Dec. at approximately 7:30 a.m. I, Patrolman Thompson, met with a resident of the Oakhurst Road area regarding a motor vehicle burglary that occurred while his truck was parked at the high school on the evening of Dec. 15. Taken from the unlocked vehicle was a set of golf clubs.

On 16 Dec. at approximately 10:30 a.m. I, Officer Thompson, was driving near the Cape Elizabeth Middle School, and noticed two small cardboard boxes in the slush. Both boxes were full and contained candles. I collected both boxes and returned them to the police department.

On Dec. 16 at approximately 3:14 p.m. I Patrolman Webster met with a resident of the Woodcrest Road regarding a motor vehicle burglary. Taken from the unlocked Dodge was a gold bracelet and a wallet containing money and several credit/debit cards.

On Dec. 17 at 5:12 a.m. I, Sergeant Steindl, met with a resident of the Shore Road area, who called regarding a loose, barking dog. The complainant was able to identify the dog. There has been no contact with the dog’s owner. Attempts will continue until contact is made and the owner advised.

On Dec. 17 at approximately 10:00 a.m., a wallet was found at the town transfer station and turned into the police department. It was returned to the owner who had dropped it at the station.

On Dec. 17, at approximately 4:13 a.m. I, Patrolman Webster, met with a Portland resident at Fort Williams Park, where his vehicle had been burglarized. Taken was a ladies wallet, which contained several credit debit cards and a small amount of cash.

The Cape Elizabeth fire department responded to: an alarm activation at Ann Arbor Drive on Dec. 13 at 8:30 a.m.; an elevator evacuation on Ocean House Road on Dec. 13 at 2:18 p.m.; a water problem on Shore Road on Dec. 15 at 9:50 a.m.; a water problem on Bayberry Lane on Dec. 16 at 11:08 a.m.; an activated fire alarm on Shore Road on Dec. 16 at 2:55 p.m.; an alarm activation on Cove View Road on Dec. 17 at 12:52 p.m.; a South Portland call on Dec. 17 at 9:14 p.m.

Cape Elizabeth rescue responded to ten calls between Dec. 13 and Dec. 19; four patients were transported to Maine Medical Center, three to Mercy Hospital, and three required no transport.

Summons and Arrests:

On Dec. 20 at 7:58 a.m. Mark Monefesco, 38, of South Portland was arrested on Sawyer Road for charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphenelia, and failure to produce insurance.