SOUTH PORTLAND – Police in South Portland have arrested two people in connection with a string of car burglaries that have plagued the city since April 1.

Although total vehicle break-ins this year are on par with typical numbers – 51 reported so far versus 48 to this point in 2011 – more than half (26) occurred in the first nine days of April. According to Lt. Frank Clark, of the South Portland Police Department, 11 reports were filed on April 10 alone.

The break in the case came at about 1 p.m. Tuesday, says Clark, when one victim saw a man wearing a backpack much like the one he’d recently lost board a bus in the Cash Corner area. On the victim’s tip, in which he described the “uniquely marked” backpack, police pulled over the bus on Broadway, near Evans Street.

Following what Clark termed a “roadside investigation,” police arrested Jason Fudge, 38, of South Portland and Lauren Burns, 20, of Portland. Both were charged with theft and theft from a motor vehicle, while Fudge was also charged with violating bail conditions.

The pair is being held at the Cumberland County Jail, with the case referred to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. However, according to Clark, the investigation will continue, “based on evidence recovered around the time of the arrests.”

“Additional charges are anticipated,” said Clark.

Jason Fudge
Lauren Burns

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