Two Arrested For String Of Church Burglaries

Georgetown – Troopers have arrested two men in connection with a series of burglaries to churches in the Georgetown and Lincoln areas.

In an investigation that began on April 17, 2016 the Milford Police Department investigated a burglary at the First Baptist Church in Milford. Through investigative measures, they were able to arrest Christopher Willey, 24 of Georgetown on July 5, 2016, police said.

The Milford Police Department shared information about the burglary with the State Police Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit due to a rash of break-ins occurring within the Lincoln and Georgetown areas involving churches and businesses. These incidents had been occurring between mid-April to mid-May when police say Willey and his accomplice, who was later identified as Christopher J. Carter, 24 of Harrington, would forcibly enter the buildings by either breaking a window, removing air conditioning units from windows, or in one case, cutting a hole through a roof.  According to authorities the two would remove cash, power tools, or other construction equipment once inside.  In a few of the cases, nothing was removed, but the two would destroy items throughout different rooms causing thousands of dollars’ worth of damage, police said.

Police have provides the following list of the locations that they say were burglarized by the two:

  • April 22, 2016 – Donovan’s Salvage, 20262 Donovan’s Road, Georgetown
  • April 27, 2016 – Redden Community Center, 18192 Redden Road, Georgetown
  • April 29, 2016 – Old Path Church of Christ, 18295 Redden Road, Georgetown
  • May 13, 2016 – Daisey’s Used Car garage, McColley’s Chapel Road, Georgetown
  • May 15, 2016 – Lincoln United Methodist Church, 8641 2nd Street, Lincoln
  • May 16, 2016 – Lincoln United Methodist Church, 8641 2nd Street, Lincoln
  • May 16, 2016 – Old Path Church of Christ, 18295 Redden Road, Georgetown
  • May 16, 2016 – Flames of Fire Holy Ghost Church, 18246 McColley’s Chapel Road, Georgetown

Christopher Willey, who was already incarcerated at Sussex Correctional Institution (SCI) for a violation of probation, and Christopher Carter, who was picked up on July 11, 2016 for a violation of probation were charged by detectives with seven counts of Burglary 3rd, Attempted Burglary 3rd, eight counts of Conspiracy 2nd, five counts of Possession of Burglary Tools, seven counts of Theft, Selling Stolen Property, and six counts of Criminal Mischief.  They were both incarcerated at SCI in lieu of $35,000.00 secured bond.

Image Credits: Delaware State Police

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