BETHEL — Business owners and residents from Bethel to Paris awoke Tuesday to find storefront and vehicle windows broken apparently by BB gun pellets.

Chief Deputy Dane Tripp of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office estimated damage in the thousands of dollars. He said he believes it was caused by a BB gun.

“We are not sure which end the suspects started from and we are trying to narrow down a timeline for the incident,” he said.

Western Maine Supply at 33 Cross St. in Bethel received a hit to one of its windows but was able to repair the damage by afternoon.

Nancy Rideout of Bolsters Decorating Inc. in Paris said all her bottom front windows were broken during the night or early morning.

“I believe a lot of businesses in the area got shot at. It was a mess,” she said.

Tripp said at least three residents in Bethel reported damage to their cars and one vehicle in  Paris was damaged.

The initial call came in at 4:30 a.m. from a business alarm activated when a window was broken, the chief deputy said.

“We are working with the state police and Paris Police Department to get an estimate on damages and possible suspects,” he said. “We may get more reports about damage as the day goes on.”

To report damage or provide information and tips, people may call the Oxford County Regional Communications Center at 743-9554 or leave an tip online at http://www.oxfordcountysheriff.com/tipline.php