TOPSHAM — A Facebook tip helped Topsham police locate two all-terrain vehicles stolen from a Topsham business early Monday morning.
Topsham police posted information about the burglary at TRi-SPORTS on the department’s Facebook page later Monday, informing the public that two ATVs were stolen from the business between 2 a.m. and 2:30 a.m.
On Tuesday, police posted the description of the two ATVs — a green 2012 Honda TRX500FM Foreman and a black and silver 2005 Polaris 800 Sportsman ATV.
After Topsham Patrol Officer Troy Garrison received a tip in response to the Facebook posting, officers located the vehicles Wednesday at separate locations in Brunswick. Police returned both vehicles to TRi-SPORTS.
Topsham Police Lt. Christopher Lewis said Thursday that the break- in at TRi- SPORTS, located at 23 Gray St., was reported at 9:25 a.m. Monday. He said “unknown persons were able to enter the fenced-in area of the business and stole two ATVs.”
The 2012 Honda belonged to the business and the 2005 Polaris was privately owned. Their combined values totals about $8,000, according to Lewis.
The thieves cut through a fence to gain access to the ATVs, Lewis said. Based on video footage of the burglary, police are looking for three suspects.
Also helpful in developing information that led to the tip Garrison received was the Topsham Trailriders ATV/Snowmobile Club, which assists police with ATV-related issues.
Lewis said police hope to press formal charges against those involved in this burglary shortly, at which time he can release more information regarding where the ATVs were located.
The four-wheelers sustained some damage, Lewis said, and it was obvious the stolen offroad vehicles had been ridden in an aggressive manner.
In a separate incident, a dirt bike and a four-wheeler were stolen from TRi-SPORTS sometime between 11 p.m. Nov. 29 and 8 a.m. Dec. 1, 2011, after someone cut the fence to gain access. On Thursday, Lewis said there is no concrete evidence to link the crimes, but police continue to investigate possible connections.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
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