PITTSFIELD, Mass. —  An "unusually high" number of commercial burglaries occurred during April, according to a report released from the Police Department.

The number of burglaries more than doubled over March. The month of April saw 43 burglaries compared to just 21 in March, which has been mostly characterized by a large number of motor vehicle burglaries.

"Although the rash of motor vehicle burglaries that we saw in March died down considerably this month, it was unfortunately replaced with an unusually high number of commercial burglaries," the Police Department wrote in a monthly "city stats" report.

Burglaries are still lower than they were at this point last year. In 2013, there were 131 and, so far this year, there have been 109. However, the number of burglaries in April are 23 percent above the five-year average.

"The average increase for burglaries between March and April is five cases, but this year we have had a 22-case increase. This spike, however, can be attributed to a rash of commercial burglaries we have had this past month," the report reads.

In nearly all types of property crime — from larceny to shop lifting to motor vehicle theft — the city was above the five-year average in the month of April. The only crime trending below is larceny from a person. 

Overall, April saw 135 cases of property crime compared to 100 last month. The property crime rate for April was 48 percent more than the five-year average.

Property crime has been on an uptick each month, but violent crime is significantly down.

"Recovering from some slipups last month, April has seen decreases in violent crime across the board," the report reads. "In all categories, April 2014 showed a 5 percent or higher decrease compared to the 5-year average (except for homicide, which has an average of 0 cases). The most notable difference, again, is the drastically smaller number of aggravated assault cases. Over the past five years, April usually brings an average of 12 aggravated assault incidents and this year, we have only had one."

There were two rapes, one robbery and one aggravated assault case in the city in April. The four total cases is down from nine last month.

Violent crime overall is down 78 percent in the month of April than the five-year average.

Pittsfield Police April 2014 CityStat Report

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Here are copies of the Police log from May 28 until June 1.

Pittsfield Police Log 5-28-2014

Pittsfield Police Log 5-29-2014

Pittsfield Police Log 5-30-2014

Pittsfield Police Log 5-31-2014.

Pittsfield Police Log 6-01-2014

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Here are copies of the police log from May 24 through May 27.

Pittsfield Police Log 5-24-2014 and 5-25-2014.

Pittsfield Police Log 5-26-2014.

Pittsfield Police Log 5-27-2014.

Cases heard before Judge Mary Lou Rup on Friday, May 16.

Michael Vickery, 24, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to six counts of breaking and entering in the daytime, three counts of larceny of a firearm and two counts of receiving stolen property.

He was ordered to serve concurrent two-year sentences at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the breaking and entering charges. He was given a two-year suspended sentences on the receiving stolen property charges.

Vickery broke into homes in Becket, Hinsdale, Lanesborough and Richmond and was in possession of stolen property between January 19, 2013 and March 6, 2013. Three additional counts of larceny of a firearm were dismissed by the state.

Cases heard before Judge Mary Lou Rup on Monday, May 19.

Gerald Gaetani, 64, of Pittsfield was sentenced to two and a half years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on weapons charges

Gaetani was found guilty on May 15, on 12 counts of illegal possession of a large capacity feeding device, three counts of illegal possession of a large capacity weapon, three counts of improper storage of a large capacity firearm and single counts of illegal ownership of a firearm, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number and improper storage of a firearm.

On Monday, he was sentenced to concurrent two and a half to two and a half plus one day sentences on the illegal possession of a large capacity weapon and illegal possession of a large capacity feeding device. He was given a concurrent one-year sentenced on the other charges.

The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his home on Bradford Street on March 3, 2013.

Cases heard before Judge Mary Lou Rup on Tuesday, May 20.

Keith Otto, 54, of Hinsdale pleaded guilty to six counts of knowingly possessing visual material of a child depicted in sexual conduct and one counts of dissemination of visual material of a child in a state of nudity or sexual conduct.

He was placed on 18-months probation. The incidents occurred in Hinsdale between November 9, 2012 and January 24, 2013. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's internet crimes against children task force.

Cases heard before Judge Mary Lou Rup on Thursday, May 22.

Timothy Welch, 45, of Pittsfield was found not guilty by a jury on two counts of breaking and entering in the daytime, two counts of larceny from a building and a single count of breaking and entering in the nighttime.

The charges stem from incidents allegedly occurring in Lenox on February 19, 2013. Four counts of attempt to commit a crime and three counts of malicious destruction of property were dismissed before trial.

Cases heard before Judge Mary Lou Rup on Friday, May 23.

Jamar Holloway, 21, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of illegal possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card and improper storage of a firearm.

He was ordered to serve two years at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the illegal possession of a firearm charge. He was given a suspended sentence for the ammunition charge and placed on one-year probation.

The charges stem from shots being fired in the area of Columbus and Circular Avenues in Pittsfield on August 19, 2013. A single count of improper storage of a firearm was dismissed by the state.
 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Here are copies of the police log from May 22 through May 23.

Pittsfield Police Log 5-22-2014 Press Log

Pittsfield Police Log 5-23-2014