The RCMP say two inmates from Westmoreland Institution appear to have escaped, broken into a home in neighbouring Dorchester and returned to jail with the stolen property.

RCMP Sgt. Terry Kennedy said a woman who owns a home within sight of the minimum security jail returned to her house at approximately 6:30 p.m. Sunday to find someone had broken in and stolen jewelry, money, alcohol and other household items with a total value of more than $5,000.

"It was a pretty big amount that was taken," Kennedy said Tuesday.

The woman called Sackville RCMP, who contacted the prison.

Assistant warden Maurice LeBlanc said prison staff did a head count, and all 214 inmates were accounted for.

RCMP called in Bruno the police dog, who helped solve the mystery, LeBlanc said Monday.

"The RCMP brought in the guard dog — police dog that they have — as part of their investigation, and they traced it back to Westmoreland Institution. The dog picked up a scent and led the RCMP back to Westmoreland."

Corrections staff began investigating and confirmed that at least two inmates had left the prison and returned that afternoon.

The RCMP interviewed several inmates and recovered some of the stolen jewelry, money, old coins and a DVD player from the prison.

Three men have been transferred to Dorchester Penitentiary, where there is more security, until the investigation can be completed. Nobody has been charged.