Springfield man arrested after breaking into supermarket with hammer

The suspect caused an estimated $4,000 in damage to the store.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A Springfield man was arrested Saturday after he allegedly used a hammer to break a window at a Carew Street convenience store.

According to Springfield police, officers were patrolling the 600 block of Carew Street around 4:30 a.m. when they noticed a broken glass window at the Racing Mart. As officers approached the store, they saw three people involved in a fight.

One of the people, later identified as a 47-year-old Curtis Combs III, freed himself from the fight when officers arrived. Combs attempted to leave the incident, dropping cigarette packs as he exited the store. The officers managed to arrest Combs and took a hammer out of his hand.

As officers reviewed videos of the incident, Combs could be seen breaking the glass window with a hammer and walking behind the building. He then grabbed dozens of items when two employees arrived and attempted to restrain him, prompting officers to arrive.

Combs was arrested and charged with:

• Breaking and Entering a Building – Night for a Crime
• destroy property
• Possession of a burglary instrument
• Theft over $1,200
• Assault and battery

Damage to the store was estimated at approximately $4,000 and the estimated value of the stolen items was over $2,600.