WILLIAMSTOWN -- A North Adams man is scheduled to be arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court today after allegedly stealing laptops and other electronics from a residence hall at Williams College on Friday.
Richard C. Jones, 27, of Chase Ave., is being charged by police with four counts of larceny over $250 and one count each of breaking and entering into a building at nighttime for a felony, malicious destruction of property under $250, possession of a burglarious instrument and trespass.
As of Sunday evening, Jones was being held in the Williamstown Police Station's lockup on $10,000 cash bail.
Sgt. Scott McGowan said Sunday that additional charges against Jones are pending, and police are investigating whether the reported break-in is linked to others in North Adams, Adams and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
"It's an ongoing investigation to try to link this crime with other similar crimes in neighboring communities," he said. "It appears to be a multitude of people in a well-organized operation."
The investigation is being done in conjunction with North Adams, Adams, MCLA and Massachusetts State Police, he said.
Since Feb. 24, break-ins have been reported at five locations in Williamstown, and in all circumstances they involved the taking of electronics, he said.
The break-ins were reported on Feb. 24, 25 and 27, and March 4 and involved a residence, two businesses and a Williams
McGowan said Jones was arrested Friday night after police officers responded to Dodd House following a request from Williams College Security. Williams College Security had received reports from students that there was a suspicious person in the building, he said.
Jones had some stolen items in his possession at the time of his arrest, and police are working to reunite those items with their owners, McGowan said.
To reach Meghan Foley,
email mfoley@thetranscript.com.
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