Police increase patrols in North Springfield following burglaries

Due to a spate of business burglaries and two armed bank robberies in Springfield over the past several weeks, the Springfield Police Department is increasing the number of daytime and nighttime patrols in the north section of town.

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2016-11-22 / Local Police increase patrols in North Springfield following burglaries By TORY JONES toryb@eagletimes.com SPRINGFIELD — Due to a spate of business burglaries and two armed bank robberies in Springfield over the past several weeks, the Springfield Police Department is increasing the number of daytime and nighttime patrols in the north section of town. The department began adding an unspecified, “additional” number of police officers on Friday, Nov. 18 to patrol the area, and are continuing to do so, said Police Chief Doug Johnston on Monday, Nov. 21. No specific timeframe has been set for the increased patrols, and the police chief declined to say exactly how many additional officers would be patrolling at any given time. The additional patrols will not involve using overtime hours on the police department payroll, Johnston said. Some shifts overlap at this time, so the chief can designate officers specifically to cover those areas of north Springfield that have been experiencing an increase in burglaries, he said. Incidents in the past several weeks include armed robberies at both Mascoma Savings Bank and Windsor County South Credit Union in Springfield — with the suspect in each robbery fleeing the scene and still not apprehended — and several businesses burglarized along River Street. Police have made one arrest in connection with the rash of business burglaries. Following a SPD joint investigation, Nico Spaulding, 34, of Chester was arrested last week and cited into court on charges of burglary and larceny at two Springfield business properties, all according to a SPD press release. SPD Officers Ryan Prince and Steve Neily took Spaulding into custody at 11:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15, charging him with burglary, petit larceny, and knowingly releasing hazardous materials. Spaulding is charged with the alleged theft of a generator and two chainsaws on Oct. 25, 2016 from an outbuilding at a business on Spoonerville Road. Prince was the responding officer for that call on Oct. 25, 2016. Spaulding is also charged with allegedly stealing diesel fuel from a truck on a business property on Precision Drive, all according to police. Neily had responded to that reported theft on Oct. 27, 2016. Spaulding has been released on conditions. He is scheduled to appear on Tuesday, Dec. 13, in Windsor County District Court - Criminal Division. Springfield detectives and patrol officers continued to work and follow up leads on the armed robberies, Johnston said. Anyone with information or who has seen suspicious activity can contact the SPD at (802) 885-2113.