BIDDEFORD — Suspects have been charged with burglary and theft in relation to numerous burglaries that have taken place in Biddeford and a pawn shop owner has been charged with receiving stolen property.

According to Biddeford Police Chief Roger Beaupre, Jesse Seward, 28, and Nathan Poland, 30, both of Biddeford, were arrested on Oct. 3 in relation to recent burglaries.

The men have so far been linked to 15 of 45 burglaries in Biddeford that have

been reported since August, said the chief.

They have been charged with burglary and theft of a firearm, both Class B felonies, and theft, a Class C felony.

According to the chief, someone near 291 Alfred St. called the Biddeford Police Department at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 3 reporting a suspicious-looking man. They said they saw the man leave a bag near bushes and then retrieve the bag soon after.

Biddeford Police Sgt. William Buhelt, one of the officers reporting to the scene, saw Seward and Poland nearby. Seward was already known to Buhelt as a key suspect in recent burglaries, Beaupre said.

Poland was carrying a red canvas bag that contained a number of electronic items and jewelry, according to police.

Homeowners at 287 Alfred St. reported a burglary later that day. The items in the canvas bag are believed to be the items stolen from the Alfred Street home, according to Beaupre.

Seward was also carrying a concealed 44 magnum revolver, which was not loaded, and a fully loaded speed loader, at the time of his arrest.

More charges against the two men are pending and there are other suspects in four more of the reported burglaries.

In relation to burglaries in the area, said Beaupre, on Wednesday, Daniel Sylvester, 23, owner of Biddeford Pawn and Loan at 193 Main St., Suite 105, was summonsed for intentionally negating his lawful responsibility to require positive identification from individuals selling their merchandise at the pawn shop.

Beaupre said a joint sting operation between BPD and the York County Sheriff’s Office was conducted at the pawn shop Wednesday and receipt of stolen operation by pawn shop staff was recorded.

However, on Thursday, Sylvester, of Dayton, said he was told the charges against him were dropped.

But a statement from the York County Sheriff’s Office said they anticipate additional charges, and Sylvester is due to appear in Biddeford District Court on Dec. 14.

Sylvester said he does not knowingly receive stolen property. The shop owner, who has operated his store since May, said “I don’t want something like this to ruin my business.”

Sylvester said he goes above and beyond reporting requirements by informing Biddeford and other local police organizations about items he receives twice weekly. He said he and other pawn shops provide police with a valuable service when reporting items they receive. If police discover any items on the list that have been reported as stolen “it gives them a chance to get the merchandise to the rightful owners.”

An administrative hearing by Biddeford Municipal Officers, made up of City Council members, will be held Monday at 7 p.m. to consider whether to suspend or revoke Sylvester’s pawnbroker business license.

The York County Sheriff’s Office has also been involved the investigation of a string of burglaries that began in May and have taken place not only in Biddeford but also in Arundel and Wells.

Last month, Tejay A. Smith, 23, of Lebanon, owner of Gold Rush Pawn Shop in Sanford, was arrested and charged with receipt of stolen property, in a joint investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the Sanford Police Department. During a search at the store thousands of dollars of items suspected of being stolen in burglaries in the area were recovered, according to Sheriff’s Office Major William King Jr.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com. Tammy Wells contributed to this story.