Berwick man gets 2-4 for his part in string of city burglaries last August

Steven Thornton (Rochester Police photo)

DOVER - A Berwick man will spend two to four years in a New Hampshire state prison for his part in a string of burglaries in Rochester last August.

Steven Thornton, 35, was sentenced in Strafford County Superior Court on Tuesday. He can shave two years off the minimum if he successfully completes a drug program, Assistant County Attorney Emily Conant said.

As part of the plea deal, Thornton admitted to receiving stolen property in connection with the thefts.

Rochester Police were in the midst of investigating the string of thefts when a crack in the case developed last 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. Both of the burglary charges were nol prossed.

It was alleged Thornton committed the thefts with an accomplice, Thomas Young of Wakefield. The disposition of Young's case was not available at presstime.