Newark – Delaware State Police have arrested four people and charged them in connection with a series of self storage unit burglaries which had been occurring in Kent and New Castle County since August of 2016, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Jeffrey R. Hale.
Hale said the the arrests occurred after troopers responded to the North Dover Storage, located at 4660 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, on Sunday, February 5, 2017, for the report of a burglary which had occurred.
During the course of the investigation, which included the viewing of surveillance footage that was subsequently released to the public, troopers received a tip, and were able to positively identify Jacob Kolar, 20, of Wilmington, DE, and a 16 year old Townsend male, as suspects in the burglary.
Both subjects turned themselves in at Troop 3, and through further investigation, troopers were able to link them, as well as Dennis Smith, 21, of Middletown, and a 14 year old Townsend male, to a total of nine burglaries of self storage facilities which had been occurring. A subsequent search of the home of the 14 and 16 year old Townsend juveniles, which is located in the 200 block of Avonbridge Drive, revealed a large amount of property that had been reported stolen in the burglaries, according to Hale.
Jacob Kolar was arrested and charged with Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, seven counts of Burglary 3rd Degree, seven counts of Possession of Burglar Tools, two counts of Theft of a Firearm, seven counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree, two counts of Theft (Felony), four counts of Theft (Misdemeanor), and ten counts of Criminal Mischief. He was arraigned at JP Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in default of $32,000.00 cash bail.
Dennis Smith was arrested and charged with Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, two counts of Burglary 3rd Degree, two counts of Possession of Burglar Tools, two counts of Theft of a Firearm, two counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree, Theft (Felony), two counts of Theft (Misdemeanor), and four counts of Criminal Mischief. He was arraigned at JP Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in default of $50,000.00 secured bail.
The 16 year old Townsend juvenile was charged by Troopers with Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, seven counts of Burglary 3rd Degree, seven counts of Possession of Burglar Tools, two counts of Theft of a Firearm, seven counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree, two counts of Theft (Felony), four counts of Theft (Misdemeanor), and ten counts of Criminal Mischief. He was arraigned at the New Castle County Family Court and committed to the New Castle County Detention Center in default of $32,100.00 cash bail.
The 14 year old Townsend male was arrested and charged with Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, two counts of Burglary 3rd Degree, two counts of Possession of Burglar Tools, two counts of Theft of a Firearm, two counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree, Theft (Felony), two counts of Theft (Misdemeanor), and four counts of Criminal Mischief. He was arraigned at the New Castle County Family Court and released on $9,300.00 unsecured bail.
Troopers said they were able to link the four suspects to the following burglaries:
Storage Sense, 893 Noxontown Pond Road, Townsend. July 17, 2016 (two units)
Reybold Self Storage, 10 Executive Drive, Newark, on August 8, 2016 (two units).
Public Storage, 3801 N. DuPont Highway, New Castle, on August 9, 2016.
Reybold Self Storage, 950 Red Lion Road, New Castle, August 12, 2016.
Atlantic Storage, 1 PGA Boulevard, Bear, August 24, 2016.
Secure Self Storage, 1020 Bear Road, New Castle, September 11, 2016.
North Dover Storage, 4660 North DuPont Highway, Dover, February 5, 2017.
Image Credits: Delaware State Police