Bear – The Delaware State Police have arrested one subject in connection with a series of Dollar Tree Store robberies.
The most recent incident occurred around 7:57 p.m. Friday September 9, 2016 when two male suspects entered the Dollar Tree, located at 660 Eden Circle, and confronted a female employee, police said. Officials said one of the suspects was armed with an unknown type handgun and demanded cash while the other suspect grabbed the register drawer and removed an undisclosed amount of currency. The two then fled the store and into the nearby neighborhood of Springfield, police said.
Delaware State Police Aviation was able to quickly respond to the area and observe the suspects running behind houses on Charles Drive. Information was provided to the ground units and one of the two suspects was taken into custody within a half hour of the crime.
Jaak Norman, 18 of New Castle, was transported back to Troop 2 where he was interviewed by detectives. It was determined through those interviews that he was also involved in two other robberies of the Dollar Tree, police said. The first was committed on Monday August 22, 2016 when he and another subject entered the Dollar Tree located at 660 Eden Circle, officials said. One of the suspects confronted a female employee of the store and demanded money from the cash register as the second suspect acted as a lookout, according to authorities. The female employee fled to the rear of the store however. Troopers said that the suspects proceeded to remove the drawer from the cash register which contained an undisclosed amount of money. They then exited the store and fled in an unknown direction. There were no injuries. A weapon was not displayed or implied.
Police said the next incident occurred on Saturday August 27, 2016 when two male suspects entered the Dollar Tree located at 660 Eden Circle and did not make contact with any employees, but removed the cash drawer containing an undisclosed amount of cash. The two fled the store with the drawer in an unknown directions.
Jack Norman was charged with two counts of Robbery 1st, Attempted Robbery 1st, three counts of Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony, two counts of Conspiracy 2nd, and Theft under $1500. He was arraigned at JP11 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $36,000.00 secured bond.
The second suspect had not been identified at this time. The last given description was that of a black male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, dark colored gloves, and a black mask. He was armed with an unknown type handgun.
