FARMINGTON -- A woman going door-to-door selling magazine subscriptions in Farmington over the weekend and who allegedly stole money from a home on Davis Road was arrested in Lewiston thanks to a Morning Sentinel reader from Oakland.

Shaleen Hensley, 18, of Midland, Texas, was arrested at a Lewiston motel and charged with class E theft.

Farmington police Officer Ed Hastings and Lewiston police located Hensley among 30 employees of Atlantic Circulation. The company operates by having salesmen knock on doors to sell subscriptions.

Hastings said an article that appeared in Sunday's paper asking for information resulted in four messages from people in the Oakland area who all said they had just been targeted by a woman who fit Hensley's description. One caller said the woman was still in sight and was leaning against a guard rail right outside the house.

"I contacted Oakland police and they picked up the woman and waited there for me. It turned out to be someone who looked like (Hensley) but she knew her and told us she was in Lewiston," Hastings said.

Hastings then drove to Lewiston and with police Sgt. Patrick Griffin visited the motel where 30 Atlantic Circulation salespeople were based and also located their manager at another motel. The salespeople were assigned to canvass different towns and were provided with transportation to each district.

Hastings said his research indicated there were numerous consumer complaints against the company. The workers he talked to denied the business is a scam.

"They said it is a legitimate business but the company has still not returned my calls," Hastings said.

On Saturday, the Davis Road resident told Hastings Hensley talked her way into the house and that Hensley was alone for a short time while the victim was writing out a check for a subscription. It was not until Hensley left that the resident realized cash was missing.

Hastings declined to state the amount of money taken but said it was less than $500.