Teen arraigned for string of robberies

By OWEN BOSS
Staff Writer

EASTHAMPTON — Police believe a local teen is responsible for a recent string of late-night break-ins at several area businesses this month, during which he reportedly shattered windows, damaged vents and stole and destroyed two cash registers.

Thomas Welch, 17, of 58 Everett St., pleaded innocent Tuesday in Northampton District Court to charges of larceny over $250, larceny from a building, three counts of breaking and entering a building during the nighttime for a felony and three counts of malicious destruction of property valued above $250.

The first reported break-in allegedly occurred overnight on Sept. 11 at Salon FX on Union Street, after an owner reportedly found the salon’s cash register missing and noticed a broken window and vent in the back of the store, according to court documents. Police reportedly took photographs of two pairs of shoeprints found inside the store but at that time had no suspects in the case.

Then, on Monday morning, two more overnight break-ins were reported at Manchester’s Hardware on Union Street and La Casita Azteca Restaurant on Cottage Street. The owner of Manchester’s Hardware reported damage to one of the store’s windows and an interior door but said he found nothing stolen; and the owner of La Casita Azteca Restaurant found a smashed window and their cash register, which allegedly contained $270, missing.

Using footage from the restaurant’s surveillance cameras, officer Alan Schadel was able to identify Welch as the man breaking into the store and after being placed under arrest, he reportedly admitted to being involved in all three robberies, according to court documents.

Although Welch’s shoeprints only matched one of those found in Salon FX, he reportedly refused to identify the other individual involved. Welch later told police he threw Salon FX’s cash register over the dam on the Lower Mill Pond and that La Casita Azteca Restauarant’s register was in a pond area near St. Brigid’s Cemetery off of Everett Street, according to court documents. Police were able to locate both registers, but because Salon FX’s was wedged in a shallow canal, they were only able to retrieve the one belonging to La Casita Azteca Restaurant, police said.

Judge Richard J. Carey released Welch on his own recognizance and on the condition that he stay away from any of the businesses he allegedly robbed, avoid drugs and alcohol and submit to random screenings and stay at his current address; he is scheduled to reappear in court for a pretrial hearing on Oct. 15.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com