KNOX COUNTY, Maine — The two convenience-store type businesses had done all they could in terms of security, according to Knox County Sheriff Patrick Polky. They had the locks, they had the security cameras. The break-ins that occurred at each rural business on the same day had been planned. Investigators believe that the perpetrators got to know those properties at Fales Store and More, in Cushing, and Lincoln’s Country Store in Warren. They did their homework.

Investigators continue to narrow down leads that may get them closer to learning the identities of individual(s) and accomplices who broke into two stand-alone businesses overnight, Oct. 22 – 23, taking advantage of their isolated locations. A Sheriff’s Office Facebook posting on October 23 generated a few tips, which investigators are considering, but, as Sheriff Polky says, “we will always take tips.”

Waves of break-ins aren’t uncommon, according to Polky, though he doesn’t consider the recent occurrences to be a “rash” or a “spree” of them. They seem to cycle through, and coincidentally or not, Waldoboro PD is also investigating break-ins in that town as well. Because of similar timing and proximity, the two law agencies are sharing notes. However, Polky cautions that the break-ins might be unrelated.

“Still, it doesn’t hurt to have extra people looking at all of the cases together,” he said.

Polky is intrigued by the timing. Break-ins occur throughout the year in Knox County. More often, however, they occur in winter, beginning in November, at vacant buildings and camps after the surrounding human population decreases. The reports of those break-ins usually generate in the spring when owners return to open up.

And though investigators are considering certain modes of operation gleaned from each store scene, any number of reasons could cause someone to commit the crime: a recent loss of employment, substance use, or simply being dormant or having relocated to the area after an extended period of time.

Sheriff Polky recalled a couple of times in his career when he happened to be in the right place at the right time to hinder a crime in progress. Once, while passing by Andes Variety, in Warren, he caught sight of an open door to a tractor trailer truck. Acting on his suspicion, he approached the vehicle, just in time to see a person leap from the cab and flee into the woods. Another time, as he passed by Reny’s in Camden, he noticed a broken storefront window and got to the scene while the perpetrator was still inside.

But these “right place, right time” scenarios are much harder in County enforcement, he said. So, Polky relies as heavily on the aging cliches of “report what you see” and “see something, say something” as he relies on preventative crime measures, including community responsiveness toward the opioid crisis.

The patrol deputies conduct the initial investigations. But, for those crimes that tend to require more hours, the KCSO has a few investigators that take over. One particular detective tends to take the property crimes, a second investigator leans more toward the domestic abuse and drugs cases, and another investigator tends to deal with the juvenile and sex crimes.