AMHERST – It's not the typical target for thieves, but a man and woman were arrested early Sunday morning allegedly trying to break into The Homestead at the Emily Dickinson Museum.

Alexander Light, 20, of Pelham, and Samantha Mulligan, 21, of Somerville, were arrested and charged with nighttime breaking and entering into the Belle of Amherst's home, said Amherst College Police Chief John Carter. The museum is owned by the college.

The two pleaded innocent Monday in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown and are due back in court for an Aug. 15 pre-trial conference, according to the clerk’s office. Both were released on their own recognizance.

A caretaker was cleaning the house at 2:35 a.m. when "he heard people attempting to get in," Carter said. The caretaker called Amherst College police, who responded. Amherst police were called to assist because Amherst College had just one officer available.

Police found that someone had removed a storm window and knocked over a vase that was on a table inside the museum while trying to get in, Carter said. He did not know the value of the vase.

Problems at the homestead are rare, Carter said. "There’s hardly any activity at all.”