By David Harry

Staff Writer

A Saco man who allegedly committed a midnight burglary spree with his dog in Scarborough was indicted March 5 by a Cumberland County grand jury.

Richard R. Martin Jr. will appear in Cumberland County Superior Court April 27 to face two counts of burglary, four counts of theft, one count of criminal mischief and one count of violating his conditions of release.

Court documents and police statements allege Martin crossed the town line between Saco and Scarborough on Ross Road early Jan. 30 and broke into one house and four cars. Martin also is accused of trying to break into another home.

 One burglary was discovered when a resident woke up to find Martin and his dog in his bedroom.

After he was told to leave, Martin broke into a car owned by the man, who watched from inside and set off his car alarm by remote control to scare Martin away, police said.

Martin allegedly attempted to break into a nearby home and cut his thumb after breaking a window, according to police statements.

As he continued along Ross Road toward its intersection with Pine Point Road, police said Martin broke into several more cars and left bloodstains and a trail of items taken from the first home he burglarized.

Scarborough police officers used a thermal imaging camera that detects body heat and an Old Orchard Breach Police canine team to track Martin to Pine Point Road. Court records described Martin and his dog as cooperative and the suspect as “visibly intoxicated.”

Martin was wearing dress shoes taken from the home he broke into and carrying a backpack with soda and a bottle of rum when he was stopped, according to police. Burglary victims told police the shoes were exchanged with boots Martin had been wearing.

Martin received three stitches for his cut thumb before he was taken to Cumberland County Jail in Portland. Martin’s father picked up the dog at the Scarborough police station, court documents said.

Court records show Martin, who said he is a self-employed painter, has prior convictions on misdemeanor charges of assault, burglary, criminal mischief, violating conditions of release and harassment by phone dating  to 2007.

Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219