Information from area residents was key to the Boothbay Harbor Police Department’s arrest of a suspect within hours of a burglary off West Street on August 21.  

Boothbay Harbor Police Chief Robert Hasch said the police received the burglary report at 7 p.m. and arrested Noah Harris, 19, Boothbay, just after 10:30 p.m. that same night. Harris is believed to have been an acquaintance of the burglary victim. He was charged with Class B burglary, a felony. Hasch said other charges may follow. Harris was taken to Two Bridges Regional Jail and has been released on bail.

Officer Fred Hutchings was the first responder to the burglary scene. He found the residence ransacked, paint and bleach spilled, items slashed and a note. The resident said jewelry had been stolen and provided police with the license plate number and description of a vehicle seen leaving the residence. Neighbors also gave police a description of a man seen leaving the premises. Hasch said this information was essential to obtaining a search warrant and ultimately to Harris’s arrest.

Police estimate the damages to the residence to be between $2,000 and $10,000; no estimate is available on the stolen jewelry.