A man and woman from Nashua are due back in Merrimack district court in August following their recent arrests on allegations they stole items from parked cars in local apartment complexes.

Derek Hammerle, 32, and Michele Nault, 26, both of 167 W. Hollis St., were booked on the charges then freed on personal recognizance bail pending their arraignments, which are scheduled for 8 a.m. Aug. 18 in the Merrimack court.

Hammerle is charged with one count each of prowling, theft and receiving stolen property, while Nault faces one count each of prowling and possession of prescription drugs without a prescription.

Police said officers were called to the Bowers Landing complex around 3:45 a.m. on June 24 for a report that people had been stealing items from vehicles that were parked at the complex.

Responding officers a short time later located a man and woman hiding in the woods off Merrimack Drive, which is in another apartment and condo complex adjacent to Bowers Landing, according to police.

The two matched the descriptions provided by a witness, and when officers questioned them “their explanations for being in the area did not make sense,” police said.

Hammerle and Nault were initially charged with prowling, but police later added the remaining charges after conducting an inventory of the couple’s property and determining that some of the items had been stolen.

Police said they are still trying to identify owners of the recovered stolen items and urge anyone who is missing one or more items to contact the department at 424-3774.

– DEAN SHALHOUP

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