ROCKLAND — On Jan. 30 at approximately 5 p.m., Rockland Police responded to Hannaford for a reported shoplifting. While summonsing an adult shoplifter in an unrelated incident, Rockland Police and Hannaford Asset Protection observed three juveniles in the process of concealing alcohol, according to a news release posted on the Rockland Police Department’s Facebook page Jan. 31.

When officers attempted to intercede, two of the juveniles failed to stop for the officers and then physically resisted arrest, the release said. During this time, one of the juveniles assaulted several of the officers.

Ultimately, Rockland Police were able to get both into custody without causing serious injury to the juveniles.

Both juveniles were on conditions of release at the time, one for a prior charge of assault on an officer. In the past month, both juveniles had been removed from the property and charged with prior thefts of alcohol from the store, according to police.

Ultimately, the Juvenile Community Corrections Officer was contacted and one of the juveniles was released to a family member while the other was transported to Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland. Both face charges of theft, trespassing, disorderly conduct and refusing to submit to arrest or detention. Additionally, one juvenile was charged with assault and criminal threatening, police said.

Rockland Police are trying to work with Hannaford to address the increase of alcohol thefts by juveniles, which can in turn fuel other juvenile related incidents. In the past two months, Rockland Police have charged juveniles with at least nine thefts of alcohol from the store. Several of the juveniles, as young as 13-years-old, have a history of repeated thefts of alcohol.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com