AUBURN — Police have arrested a pair of local men they say are responsible for the recent spate of thefts in the South Auburn area.

Auburn police, the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department and Maine State Police have been jointly investigating a string of daytime residential burglaries since they began nearly three weeks ago.

The first arrest was made Sunday afternoon, police said, when an Auburn officer spotted a vehicle matching the description of a vehicle seen at one of the burglaries.

Officers stopped the vehicle and found the operator, Todd Hood, 26, of Auburn, matched the description of a burglar provided by a victim. Hood was arrested and charged with burglary.

A second suspect, Victor Mitchell, 38, of Auburn, was arrested late Thursday afternoon and also charged with burglary. Several stolen items have been recovered, police said. However, more items remain unaccounted for.

As of last week, at least seven homes had been broken into, and items such as jewelry and electronics were taken. Police said the burglaries took place when residents were not home, with the suspects forcing their way through locked doors.