News in brief PITTSFIELD: TEEN ARRESTED FOR STEALING FROM CHURCHES

A local teenager was charged Monday with burglarizing two local churches, after the theft of collection plate receipts at one church and a Palm Pilot at another. The 15-year-old male suspect was on probation for previous burglaries, police said, and was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday afternoon. Officer Marty Cochran said the burglaries occurred at the Church of the Nazarene on Forest Street, where the hand-held computer was taken, and Calvary Baptist Church on Route 100, where the cash was stolen. Cochran said that in both cases the churches were entered through unlocked windows. Officer Michael Cote was the arresting officer. Cochran also said the police are investigating a rash of burglaries of motor vehicles throughout Pittsfield. He suggested that residents remove valuables from their vehicles and lock the doors.