Graffiti left by burglars

Class ring among thousands of dollars of items stolen in Scarborough

SCARBOROUGH — Burglars hit the Willowdale Road home of a 2012 Scarborough High School graduate over the July 4 holiday, taking thousands of dollars in jewelry, musical instruments and electronics, but leaving behind vulgar graffiti.

“I’m not sure they’re words that are suitable for a family newspaper,” said Scarborough Police Department spokesman Detective-Sgt. Rick Rouse, on Monday, of the slang words for female genitalia.

“We don’t know for certain, but it seems as though it was done by juveniles who, we think, based on the graffiti, may have known the daughter of the victims,” said Rouse.

The home was burglarized sometime between 4:30 p.m. on July 4 and when the incident was reported, at about 7 a.m. on July 6, while the family was away from the home. To protect the family, Rouse declined to give the exact address of the property and would not name the victims, although he noted the girl’s name is inscribed inside a 2012 Scarborough High School class ring, valued at $400, one of many items stolen from the home.

Other items taken include: A Mikimoto pearl necklace valued at $3,000; a Seiko lady’s wristwatch, a tourmaline necklace, a 1977 Brewer High School class ring, a Toshiba laptop valued at $500, a John Deere tin full of coins, a Danish Royal Copenhagen collector plate, a trumpet and case, two computer routers, alcohol, “old medications,” and an antique cello and case valued at $800.

“It was definitely a lot more than would fit in a pillow case,” said Rouse, intimating that a vehicle may have been used in the heist, although he declined to say what tactics police are using to track the burglars.

The thieves damaged the home by breaking in through a window. Police were scheduled to revisit the home Monday to interview the recent graduate and her father, said Rouse.

Anyone with information on the crime or any of the missing items is asked to call Rouse at 730-4308 or to email rrouse@ci.scarborough.me.us. Messages also may be left on the department’s anonymous tip line: 730-4200, ext. 3093.