NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FASTEST GROWING ONLINE NEWSPAPER

Pair indicted in string of Rochester burglaries, thefts

Comment Print
Related Articles
Steven Thornton, left, and Thomas Young (Rochester Police photos)

DOVER - Two area men have been indicted in a rash of burglaries that occurred in Rochester in August.

Steven Thornton, 34, of Berwick, Maine, and Thomas Young, 35, who is listed as living at 21 Juniper Lane, Rochester, and in Wakefield, are both awaiting trial behind bars at Strafford County Jail on high or no bail.

Rochester Police were in the midst of investigating the string of thefts when a crack in the case developed on Aug. 25.

That's when Maine State Police Trooper Kyle Wells took a report of a stolen Honda CRV on New Bridge Road in West Lebanon, Maine.

On that same day, a van stolen from Rochester, was located abandoned in the woods about a quarter mile from where the CRV was stolen. Police found property strewn around the van.

Rochester Police responded to the scene and learned that the property around the van stemmed from a Rochester burglary.

The victims, an elderly couple, had all of their belongings packed for vacation. Their home was burglarized in the early morning hours when all of their luggage was stolen. The suspect or suspects, it was believed, had stolen the van and driven it to Lebanon where they dumped the vehicle and the luggage.

Around 11:30 p.m., Rochester Police located the CRV along with two male suspects. A foot chase ensued and both men were taken into custody and transported to Strafford County Jail.

On Aug. 26 after police learned that the two suspects were staying at a Rochester motel, a search warrant was granted and property from the stolen car was located along with stolen property from multiple burglaries that Rochester Police had been investigating.

The property alleged to have been stolen includes the two cars, a flashlight, golf clubs, camera, money, shirts, jewelry, smartphone, a debit card and an IPod.

All of the thefts occurred in August in Rochester.

Thornton was indicted on 13 counts of receiving stolen property and two counts of burglary for alleged break-ins on High Street and Smoke Street.

All of Thornton's charges are Class B felonies, punishable by up to seven years in prison.

Young was charged with receiving stolen property counts as well as two drug counts for allegedly possessing meth and fentanyl. Young's drug charges are both Class B felonies, while his receiving stolen property charges are all Class A misdemeanors, punishable by up to a year in county jail each.

Thornton is currently being held at Strafford County Jail on two separate $10,000 bails, while Young is being held on no bail, jail personnel said today.

The Strafford County grand jury indictments were handed down on Nov. 16 and released last week.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt, rather than enough evidence has been gathered to warrant a trial.

Read more from:
Top Stories
Tags:
None
Share:
Comment Print
Powered by Bondware
News Publishing Software

The browser you are using is outdated!

You may not be getting all you can out of your browsing experience
and may be open to security risks!

Consider upgrading to the latest version of your browser or choose on below: