GEORGETOWN  — The Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Bath man Tuesday on suspicion of stealing jewelry from a Georgetown home where he was working as a painting contractor in January. Police are now working to identify any other potential victims.

According to the sheriff’s department, Matthew Atwood, 35, of Atwood Painting Company was arrested Tuesday on a warrant charging felony theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, when he turned himself in to authorities at the Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.

Atwood, of Bath, was arrested on the theft charge after doing some interior work at a residential home in Georgetown in January.

While working alone in the home over the course of a number of days, police say he took more than $11,000 worth of jewelry and cash from his victims, who reported the theft Feb. 5. Some of the jewelry, valued at $7,000, has been recovered at a local pawn shop, police said.

Police said Atwood has been active in several transactions at various pawn shops for similar small items such as jewelry and coins. Currently, authorities are attempting to link those pawned items to their original owners.

The case remains under investigation. The Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Department is asking individuals to come forward if they had work done by Atwood in the past year. Chief Deputy Brett Strout said investigators are looking as far away as New Hampshire. Contact Cpl. Aaron Skolfield at the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Department at 443-9711.  

Atwood was released from Two Bridges Regional Jail Tuesday afternoon on a $5,000 cash bail.