WATERVILLE — Police believe a Russell Street resident interrupted a burglar when she returned home from a walk Tuesday, but the intruder fled before police arrived.

Michelle Shores said she took her dog, Remy, a Maltese, for a walk at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, returned at 2 p.m. and went into the kitchen.

“I was talking to my dog about his new coat I bought him at Walmart and taking his leash and coat off,” Shores said. “That’s when we both heard a door close upstairs.”

Shores, who works in the circulation department at the Morning Sentinel, said she called her husband, Craig, who was in Augusta at the time.

“I went upstairs and that was when I noticed my jewelry box was moved and the picture frame knocked over,” she said.

She said her husband told her to leave the house and call police, which she did.

Michelle Shores stood on the steps of the house next door with neighbors as police, with help from state police Trooper Rick Moody and his dog, Kushel, searched the home.

Waterville police Sgt. Dan Goss said that whoever went into the home apparently got out between the time Michelle Shores left the house and the time police arrived.

“We have every indication it was a very real complaint,” he said.

He said police believe the person in the house entered after he saw her leave.

“The opportunity presented itself and they made an attempt — unsuccessfully,” Goss said.

Police asked that anyone who has information about the incident or saw anything unusual call police at 680-4700.

Amy Calder — 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com