Williamstown Charges 2 With ATM Burglary

Staff Reports iBerkshires
Print Story | Email Story
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Williamstown Police Department announced Monday that two people were arrested on Saturday while attempting to manipulate the hardware and software of an automated teller machine at the Adams Community Bank, 273 Main St., a criminal act known as "jackpotting."
 
Working in conjunction with bank security agents, officers located and arrested two people in possession of tools and digital equipment used to access and modify the ATM to allow for theft of funds.
 
The men arrested were tentatively identified as: Manuel Antonio Moguea-Gutierrez, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Roberto Flores Zabaleta, 20, of New York City.
 
Both men have been charged with breaking into a depository, possession of burglarious tools, unauthorized access to a computer system and destruction of property, value over $1,200.
 
"These arrests indicate how regional, multi-state and even international criminal activity can impact our community," Police Chief Michael Ziemba said. "The persons arrested this weekend appear to be part of a larger criminal organization that perpetrates financial crimes on a wide scale. The Williamstown Police Department is working with state and federal agencies to continue this investigation."
 

Tags: adams community bank,   ATM,   burglary,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Williamstown Con Comm Recommends Conservation Restriction

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Conservation Commission on Thursday endorsed a proposed conservation restriction on a 7-acre lot on Luce Road.
 
Owners Bruce and Judy Grinnell of North Adams were before the commission to seek its blessing for a CR to be managed by Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation.
 
The foundation's Dan Gura explained the reasons for the conservation restriction to the commissioners.
 
"This piece of land is largely agricultural," explained Gura, who serves as land protection coordinator at WRLF. "In terms of why we're protecting it, we identified some conservation values: open space protection, high quality soils, habitat connectivity, farmland currently in use and scenic views."
 
The lot in question has been farmed by the Chenail family since 1916, Gura told the commissioners.
 
It also abuts other currently conserved parcels and the Mount Greylock State Reservation managed by the commonwealth's Department of Conservation and Recreation.
 
"The hedge rows along [the Grinnell property] provide corridors that wildlife can use as they migrate through the area," Gura said.
 
View Full Story

More Williamstown Stories