SKOWHEGAN, Maine — A rash of burglaries in Somerset County, including at an elementary school from which a kindergarten pet hamster was taken, have landed a Skowhegan man behind bars, according to Sheriff Dale Lancaster.

Gerry Braley, 26, was arrested Thursday as sheriff’s deputies and Skowhegan police executed a search warrant at his Greenwood Avenue residence, according to Lancaster.





Alexis Lloyd, 19, also of Skowhegan, was summoned for burglary and theft for her role in the elementary school burglary but not arrested, according to Lancaster.

The alleged burglaries have occurred since June in the towns of Cornville, Starks and Anson, according to Lancaster.

In addition to the school, a camp on the Hilton Hill Road in Anson and two camps on the Mayhew Road in Starks were broken into, and items that include tools, televisions and other electronic devices were taken, Lancaster said.

In addition to the class hamster named Link, tools were taken from the Cornville school, the sheriff said. Video surveillance and information received from the public aided police in the investigation.

During the search warrant, Link the hamster was recovered and returned to Cornville Charter School Principal Justin Belanger, who subsequently returned the hamster to the kindergarten classroom.

Braley is facing four burglary and theft charges while Lloyd is charged with one count of burglary and theft, Lancaster said. Both suspects admitted their involvement.

Braley was being held at the Somerset County Jail, and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any additional information is urged to call Detective Michael Ross at 858-9530.