SOUTH THOMASTON — Knox County deputies are investigating a break-in that occurred sometime on Sunday, Aug. 24, at a cottage and home that sit almost 200 yards from the St. George River in South Thomaston. The Sheriff’s Office is also investigating the theft of an outboard from a skiff that was tied up the same day further down the river.

The burglar(s) left telltale boot tracks caked with mud, indicating they possibly walked up from the riverbank before forcibly entering both the cottage and house.

No one was home at the time; a couple from New York was renting the cottage for a week and had just arrived the night before. They set out at 7 a.m. to explore the Midcoast and returned back to the cottage at 6:30 p.m. That’s when they discovered the door had been kicked in.

The property owner, who lives in the nearby house, was likewise gone all day from the premises, and there, the burglars had smashed a window and broken a door to gain entry.

Justin Ford, of Rockport, manages the summer property. He was called by the tenants and went down immediately to the cottage on Drury Lane, which is off of Route 131.

“There was river mud everywhere, even on the pillows,” he said.

But the burglars did not take the obvious items: a GPS, expensive camera, artwork and antiques. Instead, they climbed up into the loft and took two high-end sleeping bags (valued at $250 each) and three LL Bean men’s shirts.

They were, however, violent in their approach. Blinds in one window that faced the driveway had not been pulled up; rather, they were yanked off the window altogether. 

“It is bizarre,” said Ford.

Knox County Chief Deputy Tim Carroll said Monday afternoon, Aug. 25, that his department continues to investigate both incidents, the stolen outboard and the Drury Lane break-ins.

The couple that had originally intended to rent the place for a week has moved on from the Midcoast. They went instead to Freeport.

Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-7757