3 men charged after alleged looting of flooded home in Maugerville

Three men have been charged in connection with alleged looting from a flooded homein Maugervilleover the weekend.

The men, who are all in their 20s, appeared in Burton provincial court on Monday and remain remanded in custody until later this week.

Travis Hunt, 29, of Maugerville, Brandon Hatchard, 29, of Perth-Andover, and Chance Leslie, 25, of Middle Hainsville, are each charged with break and enter and possession of stolen property.

Leslie faces athird charge of breach of probation.

• River patrols stepped up as thieves take advantage of flood victims

HomeownerMarkusHarvey toldCBCNews he was jolted awake early Sunday morning by the sound of people rummaging throughhis home, which is surrounded by floodwaters.

He said he yelled out "Hello" when he saw the beams from flashlights coming up the stairway to his bedroom and a man replied, "You need to evacuate."

"Then all I could hear was scurrying rats running out of my back door," said Harvey.

Around 6:45 a.m., West District RCMP, with the assistance from the OromoctoFire Department and members of the New Brunswick Department of Justice and Public Safety, arrested three men who were in a canoe.

Hunt and Hatchard are to return to court on May 10 at 9 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. respectively. Leslie is scheduled to appear on May 11 at 11 a.m.

The RCMPoffered thanks to the members of the public who provided information on the suspects' location.

Police, firefighters, members of the coast guard and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans are patrollingthe swollen St. John River to assist residents and to provide security to evacuated homes.