NORTHAMPTON — A New Hampshire man pleaded guilty Friday to stealing $16,794 worth of batteries from 13 Big Y stores in four  Massachusetts counties.

Brian Caldwell, 49, of Windham, New Hampshire, was sentenced in Hampshire Superior Court to two years of probation and ordered to repay $14,854 immediately, according to court records.

The records show that he was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and to stay away from all Big Y stores for two years.

Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Andrew Covington told Judge Richard Carey that Caldwell intended to resell the batteries on the internet.

“The battery-stealing spree came to a halt on June 26, when Northampton Police intercepted Caldwell in the Big Y parking lot, placing him under arrest after they determined that he had concealed batteries worth $1,939.91 in a reusable shopping bag,” the district attorney’s office said in a statement.

Investigators determined that Caldwell stole batteries from Big Y stores in South Hadley, Southampton, Northampton, Chicopee, Milford, Holden, Spencer, Franklin, Ludlow, Wilbraham, West Springfield, East Longmeadow and Westfield. 

Charges were filed after an investigation involving Big Y loss prevention and the police departments in all 13 communities. Caldwell admitted to one felony count of larceny over $1,200 by a single scheme.

“Despite Mr. Caldwell’s lack of any criminal record, the Commonwealth believes that this case warranted a felony conviction along with full restitution to be paid immediately back to Big Y, given the amount of merchandise stolen over a short period of time,” Covington said.

“The Commonwealth would like to thank Big Y Loss Prevention, the Northampton and Southampton Police Departments, and all of the law enforcement agencies from Norfolk, Worcester, and Hampden Counties who assisted in this multi-jurisdictional case.”

Brian Steele can be reached at bsteele@gazettenet.com.]]>