A strange theft case from Maine has caught attention after a man was accused of stealing expensive lobsters from a fishing dock. The incident shows how even small clues like vehicle details can help police solve a case.
Man Arrested for Lobster Theft in Maine
A 46-year-old man named Charles N. Collins has been arrested on suspicion of theft. He is accused of stealing nearly $2,000 worth of lobsters from a commercial fishing dock.
The alleged incident took place on March 24 at a dock operated by Art’s Lobster in Tenants Harbor.
How the Theft Happened
According to officials, the theft was captured on video. The footage reportedly shows a silver van arriving at the dock late at night.
A man and a woman were seen getting out of the vehicle and removing two crates of lobsters from the water. They then loaded the crates into the van and drove away.
Key Clue: Unique Vehicle Details
Investigators closely examined the video footage and noticed a unique feature on the van — a black sticker placed below the license plate.
This small detail turned out to be very important in identifying the suspect.
Link to Another Theft Case
While reviewing the footage, authorities received a photo from another lobster theft that happened earlier in Bremen on March 19.
The vehicle in that case matched the same van seen in Tenants Harbor. It had:
- A black skull sticker below the license plate
- Similar colour and model
- A roof rack
These matching details helped police connect both incidents.
Traffic Stop Leads to Breakthrough
A major development came on March 26 when police learned that a van matching the description had been stopped for a traffic violation.
During the stop, officers found two crates of lobsters in the back of the vehicle. These crates were believed to be the same ones stolen from the dock.
Suspect Identified Through Evidence
Authorities also compared the suspect’s appearance with the video footage. Collins was reportedly wearing the same clothes as the person seen in the videos.
Additionally, his driver’s licence photo matched the physical features visible in the footage, including his grey beard and body structure.
Investigation Continues
Based on the collected evidence, Collins was arrested. Police are continuing their investigation to understand if he was involved in other similar thefts.
The role of the second person seen in the video is also being looked into.
