Intruders have violated tranquil Panther Pond in Raymond recently by breaking into many summer camps located on the lake.
According to Captain William Rhoads of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, a group made up primarily of juveniles has broken into at least 13 camps on Henry’s Highway, Bumpy Road and Ladyslipper Road, which are all off of AI Road near Fire Lane 39G.
Rhoads said that in at least one of the break-ins, the perpetrators left behind physical evidence that has helped detectives with the case.
“At one camp they broke into, they had a party with a fire in the woodstove,” Rhoads said.
Because of the camps’ remote location, which limits access for fire fighting equipment, along with their wooded surroundings, fire is a huge concern to Detective Regan Goan, who is investigating the break-ins. The remote location can also make camps an easy target for off-season intruders.
Although vandalism does not appear to be a motive in these break-ins, the trespassers smashed windows and broke down doors to access the camps. In most cases, property maintenance workers or caretakers discovered the break-ins.
With the help of an area resident, who saw some unfamiliar teens in the neighborhood, early this week Det. Goan arrested six suspects and expects to arrest another five before the end of the month. Although most are juveniles, a couple are 19 or in their early 20s. All live in Raymond or Casco.
Since most of the camps’ owners are out of state, charging the suspects becomes difficult because detectives cannot determine what, if anything has been stolen.
Goan is optimistic that all the perpetrators will be caught but not as positive about halting the break-ins themselves.
“I expect to find more,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve seen the worst of it yet.”
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