Breaking News: Sherman St. Smash and Grab

Sherman Street has been improving slowly but surely as a Portland neighborhood over the last decade or so, but it still has its run-ins with crime. Over the last month or so, there have been 3 car break-ins, including perhaps the most ludicrous one of all: one car had its window smashed in and nothing was stolen but a SHOVEL. Only in Maine... As a clincher, the car wasn't even locked when the window was broken by the thief.

The most recent of the smash-and-grabs occurred a little bit before 3:00pm this afternoon. Local crime watchers were alert, though, and the three suspects who perpetrated it were quickly apprehended by Portland Police, who responded in a rapid and professional fashion.

Please note that these arrests occurred because of a couple of regular folks saw something suspicious happening and acted upon it quickly. If we all pay attention to what's going on in our neighborhoods, there's a good chance that a lot of the petty crime can be eliminated. These guys are not rocket scientists. The crime was performed in broad daylight, and with no subtlety whatsoever.

One suspect stood lookout on the corner of the street. The other two moved back and forth along the sidewalk, trying car doors and looking in car windows for a few minutes before picking their victim's car. All three wore hoods to hide their faces. They took their time leaving the scene, which was only a handful of houses away from the address on Sherman Street that they returned to after the crime.

If you see something happening, call 911. The next time, it could be your car.