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Police release a security camera image of the suspect in five convenience store robberies.

Pittsfield Police Arrest Suspect in Pittsfield-Lenox Robbery Spree

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Update 3:30 p.m.: Pittsfield Police report that Patrick Sheerin, 28, of Pittsfield, was arrested in Pittsfield on Monday morning and will be arraigned Tuesday in Central Berkshire District Court in relation to the robberies.
 
Sheerin is being charged with five counts of armed robbery at four conveniences stores in Pittsfield and one in Lenox. 
 
The first three incidents occurred within less than a half-hour on Sunday: the Lipton Mart at 460 South St. on Sunday at 6:51 p.m., the second at the Lipton Mart at 426 Pittsfield Road in Lenox at 7:04 p.m. and the third at Palmer's Variety at 221 Elm St. at 7:16 p.m. 
 
The second two robberies were on Sunday morning, the first at the Cumberland Farms at 885 Dalton Ave. at 2:31 a.m. and the second at Convenience Plus at 115 Dalton Ave. at 8:29 a.m.
 
The investigation into these incidents is being conducted by the Pittsfield and Lenox police departments and the state police. Other charges may be forthcoming. Anyone with information on any of these robberies is asked to contact lead Detective James Losaw at 413-448-9700, Ext. 572.
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police in Pittsfield and Lenox are looking for the perpetrator in five different robberies of convenience stores in the two communities that have occurred since Sunday afternoon.
 
The suspect reportedly threatened that he was in possession of a weapon but did not display one when he demanded cash from the businesses. 
 
He is described as a tall and slender white male. The robberies in both communities occurred at different hours of the day and night and law enforcement believes the same individual perpetrated all five robberies.
 
As a result of these incidents, the Pittsfield Police Department is increasing
patrols at this time and is asking all area business owners and employees to be aware of any suspicious individuals inside or around their businesses. 
 
Police are also encouraging businesses equipped with a video surveillance system or alarm to ensure these systems are operational. Report any suspicious activity to Pittsfield Police immediately at 413-448-9700 or call 911 if it is an emergency. More information regarding these incidents will be released at a later time.

Tags: robbery,   

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Dalton Man Accused of Kidnapping, Shooting Pittsfield Man

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton man was arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly kidnapping and shooting another man.

Nicholas Lighten, 35, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Friday on multiple charges including kidnapping with a firearm and armed assault with intent to murder. He was booked in Dalton around 11:45 p.m. the previous night.

There was heavy police presence Thursday night in the area of Lighten's East Housatonic Street home before his arrest.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Dalton dispatch received a call from the Pittsfield Police Department requesting that an officer respond to Berkshire Medical Center. Adrian Mclaughlin of Pittsfield claimed that he was shot in the leg by Lighten after an altercation at the defendants home. Mclaughlin drove himself to the hospital and was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries. 

"We were told that Lighten told Adrian to go down to his basement, where he told Adrian to get down on his knees and pulled out a chain," the police report reads.

"We were told that throughout the struggle with Lighten, Adrian recalls three gunshots."

Dalton PD was advised that Pittsfield had swabbed Mclaughlin for DNA because he reported biting Lighten. A bite mark was later found on Lighten's shoulder. 

Later that night, the victim reportedly was "certain, very certain" that Lighten was his assailant when shown a photo array at the hospital.

According to Dalton Police, an officer was stationed near Lighten's house in an unmarked vehicle and instructed to call over the radio if he left the residence. The Berkshire County Special Response Team was also contacted.

Lighten was under surveillance at his home from about 7:50 p.m. to about 8:40 p.m. when he left the property in a vehicle with Massachusetts plates. Another officer initiated a high-risk motor vehicle stop with the sergeant and response team just past Mill Street on West Housatonic Street, police said, and traffic was stopped on both sides of the road.

Lighten and a passenger were removed from the vehicle and detained. Police reported finding items including a brass knuckle knife, three shell casings wrapped in a rubber glove, and a pair of rubber gloves on him.

The response team entered Lighten's home at 43 East Housatonic before 9:30 p.m. for a protective sweep and cleared the residence before 9:50 p.m., police said. The residence was secured for crime scene investigators.

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