SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — South Portland police are investigating a series of car break-ins that included the theft of a loaded handgun and a badge from a sheriff’s deputy’s vehicle.

Authorities say several motor vehicles were broken into early Friday morning, and that they have questioned a 21-year-old man about the thefts.

Police say a gun, a badge and several credit cards were taken from a Cumberland County sheriff’s deputy’s car.

Cumberland County Sheriff Naldo Gagnon told the Maine Sunday Telegram (http://bit.ly/SfUO7R ) he doesn’t believe the deputy violated departmental policy by leaving the loaded gun in his car at the end of his shift. He declined to name the deputy whose car was broken into.

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Information from: Portland Press Herald, https://www.pressherald.com