ROCKLAND — Attentive plow truck drivers Saturday night helped police nab a car burglar, who turned out to be the same man convicted of a string of car burglaries in the city's south end six years ago.

Rockland Public Works plow drivers called police around 12:30 a.m. Feb. 24 when they saw footprints in the fresh snow and a man fleeing the area of Meadow Way.

Deputy Chief Wally Tower said police responded to the small residential neighborhood off Old County Road and located Robert Sukeforth on foot. Tower said it was soon determined that Sukeforth had attempted to enter or entered numerous parked vehicles in the area.

It was later discovered that vehicles along Old County Road, Littlefield Street, Nevelson Street and Rankin Street had all been entered that night.

Tower said Sukeforth, 41, of Rockland, was charged with 16 counts of burglary of a motor vehicle, 10 counts of attempted burglary of a motor vehicle and one count of possession of burglary tools.

Tower said Sukeforth is familiar to the department, having been caught in the past and prosecuted for the same crime.

In August 2008, Sukeforth was found guilty of nine counts of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer and given four years in prison and $1,395 resitution. He was also found guilty at the time of 13 counts of burglary of a motor vehicle. In 2001, Sukeforth was arrested for a rash of burglaries and thefts in Waldoboro. At the time, he also had outstanding warrants burglaries and thefts in Cumberland County.

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached by email at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or by calling 207-706-6655.