Sheriff's Deputies Seek Suspects in Repeated Commercial Property Break-Ins

Law enforcement officials in Penobscot County are turning to the public for help after a vacant commercial property has become the target of repeated criminal activity. The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department is currently searching for a group of individuals believed to be responsible for a series of break-ins, property damage, and trespassing incidents at a major facility in Hermon.

The Target: 90 Diesel Shop Road

The targeted location is 90 Diesel Shop Road, formerly operating as the Bangor Metro Logistics Transportation Hub. The large commercial property is currently vacant and listed for sale by the Boulos Company with an asking price of $1.7 million.

According to authorities, the vacant property has suffered numerous recent incidents. The most recent break-in occurred late Saturday night. Despite the property being vacant, active surveillance cameras on the premises successfully captured a group of several suspects breaching the facility and wandering the grounds. Currently, deputies have not been able to identify or apprehend any of the individuals involved in the repeated break-ins.

In an effort to generate leads, the Sheriff's Department has published still images pulled from the security footage and is strongly requesting that anyone in the community who recognizes the suspects contact local authorities immediately.

Securing Vacant Commercial Properties

Vacant commercial buildings are massive liabilities for property owners. They attract vandals, copper thieves, and squatters, and repeated break-ins can significantly diminish the property's market value. If you manage a vacant commercial space, you must implement specialized security protocols:

• Active Deterrence Cameras: Standard security cameras simply record crimes as they happen. Vacant properties require intelligent, motion-tracking cameras equipped with "active deterrence." These systems feature intense strobe lights and pre-recorded audio warnings (e.g., "You are trespassing, police have been dispatched") that trigger instantly upon detecting human movement, often causing intruders to flee before causing damage.
• Perimeter Hardening: Ensure all exterior gates are secured with heavy-duty, tamper-proof commercial padlocks. Consider installing temporary chain-link fencing around the immediate perimeter of the primary structures to create an additional physical barrier.
• Property Maintenance: A building that looks abandoned is more likely to be targeted. Maintain regular landscaping, ensure the parking lot is clear of debris, and keep some interior lights on timers to create the illusion that the property is regularly monitored or lightly staffed.