A series of vehicle thefts in Calais -- including one that resulted in an SUV dumped in the St. Croix River -- has kept police and fire department officials busy over the past month. A total of six vehicles have been reported stolen, with arrests made in half of the cases. Police have arrested a juvenile, a 34-year-old male and a 46-year-old male, all from the Calais area.
      It's part of a "weird trend" happening in the city, says Sergeant Chris McCann of the Calais Police Department. He said that some of the cases are indeed related to one another, but he could not comment further due to the ongoing investigation.
      In most cases, the vehicles were taken from small businesses, with Androc, Rent A Center and Border Electric among those affected, and they had their keys in the ignition when they were taken. One of the vehicles was stolen on July 17 and driven into the river, leaving the Calais Fire Department to fish it out. Calling it "suspicious" and fueled by "criminal mischief," Calais Fire Chief Bill Lee adds, "It's an unfortunate thing. It's kind of crazy."
      The fire department was also engaged in retrieving another vehicle from the river on July 4. In that case, however, it "seems like it was an accident," Lee says, citing "operator error" as the likely reason the unoccupied vehicle rolled into the river.
      Residents and business owners should "make sure vehicles are locked and the keys are not in it" to protect themselves from the possibility of theft, McCann says.
      To report any information regarding the ongoing cases, please contact the Calais Police Department at 454 2752.