Rochester woman nabbed in Dover crime spree

Vanessa Lee Bentle (Dover Police photo)

DOVER, N.H. - A Rochester woman went on a one-woman crime spree in neighboring Dover early Wednesday, first trying unsuccessfully to break into a downtown beer retailer before having better luck gaining entrance to a nearby market where she was later found by an employee arriving for work and physically detained until police arrived.

Dover Police responded around 6:15 p.m. to well-known Janetos Market at 77 Main St. for a report of a smashed window.

According to a Dover Police press release, when they arrived they found Vanessa Lee Bentley, 36, of Rochester, N.H., being held by the employee, who apparently had discovered the suspect inside the store after calling police.

The investigation revealed that Bentley used a tool to gain entry. She was taken into custody and charged with felony burglary.

Further investigation revealed that she had attempted to break into nearby Downtown Discount Beverages approximately an hour earlier, also by smashing the front window, however, was unable to enter the store.

She was charged with attempted burglary in that incident.

Bentley was also later charged with felony possession of a controlled substance found in her possession after the arrest.

Bail was set at $25,000 cash pending an arraignment later today in Dover District Court.