Police probe meat market break-ins

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By Diana Bowley, BDN Staff

Posted Feb. 02, 2009, at 1:00 p.m.
Last modified Feb. 13, 2011, at 11:07 a.m.

GUILFORD, Maine — The owners of Herring Brothers’ store on Route 15 in Guilford were busy Monday cleaning up a mess left behind by vandals who entered the store through a front window during the night.

Police said they believe the same individuals also entered Countryside Meats in Dover-Foxcroft the same night. Entry into that business was through a back window, according to Sgt. Gary West of the Dover-Foxcroft Police Department. No vandalism was reported at the store, but less than $100 in cash was taken, he said.

At the Herring Brothers’ store, the vandals did “fairly significant” damage, according to Investigator Guy Dow of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department.

Owners Andrea and Tom Gilbert said Monday evening that cartons of eggs were tossed about the building, the meat from the coolers was discarded onto the floor, bottles of beer and pickles were broken, a wall mount of a Highlands cow head was pulled from a wall and broken, the office was ransacked and hand lotion was poured into a copy machine.

Andrea Gilbert also noted that some deli turkey meat was placed onto a counter and stabbed with carving knives.

The owners, who are now back in business, estimated the damage at $700.