The manager of a local marine supply store followed two would-be thieves after they tried to abscond with three used boat batteries, then watched a few minutes later while police collared the pair on Pleasant Street.
Jonathan Scott Hartill, 22, and Matthew E. Rose, 35, both of Brunswick, are charged with one count each of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer and probation violation.
David Crosman, the manager of Midcoast Marine Supply at 53 Bath Road, reported the incident to police at 3:40 p.m. Tuesday.
“It was a couple of guys who tried to take battery cores,” Crosman said. “There’s usually a couple cores outside for my battery guy to pick up.”
Marine batteries hold more power and cost more than their automotive counterparts, so the core charge is steeper as well — making for a decent windfall if one doesn’t have to ante up for the price of the battery in the first place.
“It was a snatch-and-grab, is what it was,” Crosman said. “They were making a whole lot of noise, and at first I thought it was someone throwing something in the Dumpster. But when I looked out the window, I saw them put the last battery into the car and start to drive away.”
Crosman grabbed his own keys as he watched, walked out the door to follow them and dialed the police as he went.
Police collared Hartill and Rose on Pleasant Street a few minutes later.
Brunswick Deputy Chief Marc Hagan said the men were taken to Cumberland County Jail in Portland on the probation hold and to await arraignment.
The charge against Rose is a misdemeanor, and he is ordered to appear in West Bath District Court on Jan. 7.
However, because Hartill has several past convictions for theft and burglary, the charge against him was elevated to a felony level. He will appear in Cumberland County Superior Court in Portland on Jan. 21.
jtleonard@timesrecord.com
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