From the Desk of Police Chief Darrell Fennelly

For Your Safety: Scams

Four signs that it's a scam

Scammers who call text or email...

Pretend to be from an organization you know.
Scammers say there's a prize or a problem.
Scammers pressure you to act immediately.
Scammers tell you to pay in a specific way.

What you can do to avoid a scam...

Block unwanted calls and text messages or simply hang up if you feel uncomfortable.
Don't give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn't expect.
Resist the pressure to act immediately.
Never pay someone who insists you pay with a gift card or by money transfer. And never deposit a check or send money back to someone.

You can find more info at: www.consumer.ftc.gov

Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission at: www.ReportFraud.ftc.gov

For Your Safety: Tips

A general safety tip for our residents. Please make sure you lock your cars whether you are out and about or at home for the night. An unlocked car is an open invitation for a thief to take your belongings. Unfortunately, unless someone sees something these types of crime are very difficult for us to solve, so please protect yourself. Remember, we have investigated these types of crimes in the past here in Stockbridge. Criminals are opportunistic but we can make it difficult for those attempting to victimize us. If you see something suspicious call us right away. If you have a gut feeling something is wrong, your gut is usually right. Call us anytime. We are here 24/7. Stop and talk to someone you trust or call the Stockbridge Police Department at 413-298-4179 for advice.

From the Desk of Police Chief Darrell Fennelly

FYI

On Tuesday, December 28th Police in Berkshire County received a Be on The Lookout report related to two brazen coordinated shoplifting incidents at liquor stores in Lee and in Gt. Barrington.

Shortly thereafter, Sgt. Kirk Nichols of the Stockbridge Police Department posted at Ice Glen Road and South Street shortly thereafter observed a vehicle matching the description of the suspects' vehicle speeding north on South Street.

Sgt. Nichols stopped the vehicle in front of our library on Main Street. As he exited his cruiser the suspect vehicle sped away. The Sergeant radioed for help and further attempted to stop the suspects. They fled at high speed down East Main Street into Lee. The Sergeant followed as they turned into the Quarry Hill Business Park along with Lee Police Officers, who arrived at that location at the same time. What the officers knew, but the suspects didn't, was that the Quarry Hill Business Park is a dead end. The jig was up.

Officers found multiple people in the vehicle and quite a bit of assorted merchandise and liquor. The driver was arrested, and the vehicle towed. A subsequent search warrant was performed on the vehicle and an extensive inventory of alleged stolen goods was recorded. The investigation has turned into a coordinated multi-jurisdictional investigation as there were goods in the vehicle from many different stores around the Northeast. Charges are pending for all involved.

Even though we live and work in little old Stockbridge we are not immune to what certainly appears to be big city crime. You never know what you might run into on a sleepy Tuesday night. Thankfully no one was injured in the incident.

Ice Glen Bobcat. Photo: Jay Rhind