CAMDEN — Less than a week after Rockport police launched an investigation into a rash of car and home burglaries in the Main Street-Mistic Avenue neighborhood, Camden police and residents are now facing their own rash of car burglaries.

Camden Detective Curt Andrick said Tuesday morning, July 12, that at least 10 calls have come in since Monday night and early Tuesday morning from residents on Pearl Street, reporting vehicle break-ins.

“It doesn't appear that a lot of items missing,” said Andrick. “Vehicles were gone through, but that’s about it.”

Andrick, who was tasked last week by newly appointed Camden-Rockport Police Chief Randy Gagne to work the Rockport cases, said he has suspects and that both investigations are ongoing.

Although the number of reports in Rockport remains at nine, and so far there are about 10 in Camden, the number of incidents in Camden could climb once word spreads and residents begin to realize that something seems amiss today, like a car door found open this morning, or sounds heard overnight that were dismissed. Those clues, connecting the dots and social media helped get word out in Rockport that no, someone wasn’t absent minded and left a car door open overnight. And no, the kids did not let the indoor cats out to roam the neighborhood, frightened and unaware of their predicament.

“Obviously, not to sound like a broken record, but all the vehicles rifled through last night were unlocked. It's a crime of opportunity. If a vehicle door is locked, they generally go to the next vehicle,” said Andrick. “But we also ask people to call and report any suspicious people in their driveway at the time, and not wait until the morning, or to call and report anything they see suspicious at night, when they see it.”

In Rockport, at least one home was entered through a basement window, with the suspect entering the home, going into a home office and then exiting through the garage, leaving the door open and allowing the family’s cats to escapes. In another incident in Rockport last week, a woman woke up to find an individual in her yard, holding a flashlight, who then pulled up her mailbox before she called police.

Camden and Rockport police have begun working more closely in recent weeks, since the retirement of Rockport Police Chief Mark Kelley, effective July 1. Later this afternoon, officers from both departments will be sworn in as law enforcement officers with jurisdiction to cover complaints and incidents in either town. The move to combine the town police departments, both via leadership and mutual aid, is a temporary one that expires in six months, giving Rockport time to determine the future of its four-officer police department.

To report a crime or suspicious activity, dial 911 to reach a Knox County Regional Communications dispatcher.

Related stories:

• UPDATE: Rockport Main Street, Mistic neighborhood hit by overnight house and car break-ins

• Terms of agreement: Camden, Rockport to decide on sharing police chief cost, services

• Rockport says farewell to police chief with spirit, heart and soul

Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com and 207-706-6655.