A 51-year-old Milford man was collared yesterday morning for the November armed robbery of NBT Bank in Pittsfield, where he made off with nearly $144,000, police said.
Christopher Oliveri was nabbed by investigators who had observed him leaving his home, according to a press release from the Pittsfield Police Department. Cops said they had to closely follow Oliveri, only to arrest him without incident shortly thereafter. At the time of his capture, Oliveri was allegedly carrying a black revolver, different than the weapon used during the brazen November heist.
The Pittsfield Police Department reported that on November 29, 2023, at around 5:00 p.m., an armed Oliveri stormed into the NBT Bank on Merrill Road, forcing tellers to shutter the bank and zip-tie their hands before he looted cash from the vault and drawers. He then fled the scene with a sizable haul, later found to be precisely $143,960.00. Thankfully, no injuries followed the terrifying ordeal, as the employees managed to break free to summon the police.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Oliveri's residence, turning up evidence that included clothing, items used during the robbery, a gun resembling the one wielded in the heist, and a stash of cash amounting to approximately $112,700.00. The successful execution of the arrest and search warrants represent the culmination of a collaborative effort involving several agencies as detailed on the Pittsfield Police Department's Facebook page.
Oliveri is to be arraigned in Worcester District Court on the arrest warrant for the NBT Bank Robbery and charges related to the illegal possession of a firearm found during his arrest. He will subsequently face arraignment in Pittsfield District Court on the robbery charges, with additional charges pending for items discovered during the residence search. The ongoing investigation into the robbery was a coordinated effort involving the Pittsfield Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, and Milford Police Department.
