By MICHAEL MAJCHROWICZ
@mjmajchrowicz
Last modified: Friday, January 15, 2016
NORTHAMPTON — Area police departments joined forces Friday in an effort to uncover more information regarding a series of business break-ins that may be related.
Northampton Police Capt. John D. Cartledge said police responded to a triggered alarm at Racing Mart, 54 Easthampton Road, about 12:20 a.m. Friday. Nothing was taken from the business, but the front door was tampered with, he added.
Multiple similar incidents were reported earlier this month in Easthampton and Greenfield as well, Cartledge said. Easthampton Police are involved in the joint effort.
Greenfield Police Lt. Joseph Burge said his detectives are in communication with the other agencies regarding the break-ins and that the thieves appear to be targeting gasoline station and mini-mart convenience stores.
Greenfield Police also wrote on its Facebook page seeking the public’s help in identifying a man they said broke into Lipton Mart, 100 Mohawk Trail, at about 1 a.m. Friday. He made off with a large number of cigarettes, police said.
“This is the second incident of a business break in Greenfield that a large amount of cigarettes were taken,” the post reads. “We are also of the understanding that other local cities and towns in Western Massachusetts had similar incidents.”
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.