Waterville’s Sukeforth Family Festival Of Trees Robbed -UPDATED
UPDATE Nov. 22 3:30 PM- According to published reports, a man has been arrested in connection with the robbery at the Sukeforth Family Festival of Trees at the Hathaway Center in Waterville.
CentralMaine.com reports that Bobby Campbell, 51, whose address is listed as "transient," was arrested on felony charges of burglary and theft. He has been arrested and was taken to the Kennebec County Jail because he was not able to post the $500 bail, the story said.
ORIGINAL STORY CONTINUES BELOW
A robbery at the Sukeforth Family Festival of Trees at the Hathaway Center in Waterville has certainly dampened the holiday spirit, but the festival's organizers say the event will go on as scheduled.
According to Festival Organizer Annette Marin, the robbery occurred sometime either Sunday (Nov. 19) or Monday (Nov. 20). Marin said surveillance cameras at the Hathaway Center captured a person, believed to be a man, removing items from the festival and leaving through a back alley.
Marin said the man took a kayak and paddle, tools, a leaf blower or a chainsaw and fishing poles and left the large items behind the building. Fortunately, workers at the Hathaway Center discovered the items behind the building and recovered them, and they are now at the Waterville Police station as part of the investigation.
Unfortunately, Marin said the person made off with approximately $1,000 worth of lottery scratch tickets and some champagne. She said those items were still missing.
According to Marin, the news of the robbery has been tough to take for all involved in the festival. "Everybody's heartbroken," she said.
Despite the robbery, Marin said the Festival of Trees will still be held as scheduled. It will be open on Nov. 24 and 25 from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. and on Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.. Go here for more information on the festival.
Anyone with any information on the robbery can call Marin at 313-3216.