March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Safe-cracking attempt made at Miane State Prison office > Thomaston Police Chief Lavoie says he has no suspects

THOMASTON — A “professional” safe-cracking attempt was made sometime over the long holiday weekend at the business office of Maine State Prison, Police Chief Robert Lavoie confirmed Wednesday.

Lavoie said that the burglary occurred sometime between 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, and 5:45 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26, when accountant Laura Stairs went to reopen the office. While intruders drilled 17 holes in the safe, they were unable to open the safe that contained between $4,000 and $5,000.

Lavoie said the thieves knew exactly where to go in the building and must have spent several hours inside the office located directly across the street from the maximum-security prison. The only reason the safe was not cracked, Lavoie said, was because the right drills were not used to penetrate an inner steel wall.

Inmates at the prison have had access to the building. A painting crew had been working there recently, Lavoie said. He said that he questioned one inmate, a safe cracker, but that he was not a suspect.

Information about the layout of the business office could have been relayed to others on the outside, Lavoie said. He suspected that the burglary may have been linked with a series of several other burglaries in the area.

Besides knowing exactly where the safe was located behind one of three locked doors, the thieves knew their way around the building. Entry was gained by forcing a back door to gain entrance to a garage.

A window then was smashed to enter the office area. Lavoie said that the intruders were professional in that nothing was left behind. The burglar or burglars were able to avoid detection by a roving prison guard who patrols the perimeter of the prison at night. The business office is next door to the residence of Warden Martin Magnusson.

Lavoie said he had the burglary under investigation but acknowledged there were no suspects.


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