Man to pay restitution after guilty plea in theft of $16,000 in batteries at Big Y stores

NORTHAMPTON  –  A New Hampshire man was placed on probation for two years and ordered to make immediate restitution after he admitted to stealing $16,793.92 worth of batteries from 13 Big Y stores in four different counties in a Hampshire Superior Court change of plea hearing.

Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Andrew Covington told Hampshire Superior Court Judge Richard Carey that Brian Caldwell, 49, of Windham, New Hampshire, stole batteries from 13 Big Y World Class Markets between May 8, 2021 and June 26, 2021 with the intention of selling them on the Internet.

Law enforcement investigations determined that he stole batteries from Big Y stores in Milford, Holden and Spencer in Worcester County; in Franklin in Norfolk County; in Ludlow, Wilbraham, West Springfield, East Longmeadow, Westfield and Chicopee in Hampden County; and South Hadley, Southampton and Northampton in Hamsphire County.

The battery-stealing spree came to a halt on June 26, when Northampton Police intercepted Caldwell in the Big Y parking lot, placing him under arrest after they determined that he had concealed batteries worth $1,939.91 in a reusable shopping bag. A joint investigation involving Big Y Loss Prevention and 13 police departments ensued, leading to charges.

In a plea agreement jointly recommended by ADA Covington and defense attorney Alfred P. Chamberland, Caldwell pleaded guilty to one felony count of larceny over $1,200 by single scheme. Under the terms of his probation, Caldwell must stay away from all Big Y markets and pay a $10,000 fine. He was also ordered to pay restitution of $14,854.11 to Big Y on Friday.

In explaining the plea agreement and recommended sentence, Covington said “despite Mr. Caldwell’s lack of any criminal record, the Commonwealth believes that this case warranted a felony conviction along with full restitution to be paid immediately back to Big Y, given the amount of merchandise stolen over a short period of time.”

“The Commonwealth would like to thank Big Y Loss Prevention, the Northampton and Southampton Police Departments and all of the law enforcement agencies from Norfolk, Worcester, and Hampden Counties who assisted in this multi-jurisdictional case,” Covington said.

Criminal charges are based on probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.