Selbyville – Delaware State Police Detectives have arrested four people involved in burglaries and thefts that have been occurring over the last two months, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier.
Fournier said in the first investigation, William J. Tingle II, 28 of Ocean View, was arrested on Thursday October 6, 2016 after he was found to be in possession of crack cocaine during a traffic stop near Laurel. He went on to say that a computer inquiry revealed he was wanted out of Worcester
County, Maryland for several burglaries.
At that time, Tingle was charged with Possession of Cocaine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was arraigned at JP2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution (SCI) on $3,000.00 cash bond.
The vehicle Tingle was driving was towed back to Troop 4 in Georgetown where a search warrant was obtained and upon searching the car, pieces of a birth certificate were located, according to Fournier. Police said that when the certificate was reassembled, it was determined to be a document that was inside a safe that was stolen from a burglary in the 30000 block of Bunting Road, Frankford just two days prior.
Detectives continued to follow-up on thefts from vehicles and other burglaries in the Selbyville and Frankford areas and were able to link Tingle to 17 other complaints, according to authorities. He was additionally charged with three counts of Burglary 2nd, twelve counts of Theft Under $1500 Where the Victim is 62 or Older, eight counts of Theft Under $1500, Criminal Mischief, and fifteen counts of Criminal Trespass 3rd. He was arraigned at JP2 and remains committed to SCI on an additional $27,100.00 secured bond.
In a second and separate investigation, Thomas G. McCoy, 29, and Amy N. Biddinger, 25, both of Ocean View, were taken into custody without incident on Wednesday October 19, 2016, after they were stopped by troopers for operating a stolen motor vehicle, Fournier said. Fournier said that it was determined through the investigation that the vehicle had been allegedly stolen the previous day from Hockers Grocery & Deli located at 34960 Atlantic Avenue, Millville, when a female customer parked her vehicle in a parking spot with the key still in the ignition. McCoy was standing outside the store and can be seen through surveillance video entering the car and driving off, police said.
Police said that detectives were also able to link McCoy to another motor vehicle theft that occurred on Monday October 17, 2016, when a male victim reported his pick up truck stolen from the Rite Aid located at 219 Atlantic Avenue, Millville. In this case, the victim left his keys on the seat and entered the store for a quick errand. When he returned, the vehicle was seen driving out of the parking lot onto Old Mill Road.
That vehicle was recovered the following day in the area of Burbage Road and Jones Road, Frankford, undamaged, although, the victim’s cell phone was missing, Fournier said.
Officials said that McCoy and Biddinger were also connected to a burglary that was committed on Friday September 9, 2016 in the 30000 block of White Tail Drive, Selbyville, when McCoy was allegedly seen inside the residence by the homeowner before he fled with an electronic gaming device and cash.
Thomas McCoy was charged with Burglary 2nd, Conspiracy 2nd, three counts of Theft Under $1500, two counts of Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Selling Stolen Property, and two counts of Driving Without a Valid License. He was arraigned at JP2 and committed to SCI in lieu of $15,502.00 secured bond.
Amy Biddinger was charged with Burglary 2nd, Conspiracy 2nd, Theft Under $1500, and Selling Stolen Property. She was arraigned and released after posting $4,000.00 secured bond.
During a third investigation, Donald W. Elliott, 37 of Dagsboro, was arrested on Friday September 30, 2016 after detectives say they were able to place him at numerous burglaries to residences in the Dagsboro, Frankford, and Ocean View areas. Through witness interviews and victim’s accounts, the vehicle in which Elliott was driving was identified and located when he was arrested, said Fournier. In most of these cases, Elliott would allegedly go to the residences forcefully enter through doors or windows and would remove prescription or over-the-counter medication along with loose change.
Donald Elliott was charged with twelve counts of Burglary 2nd, three counts of Possession of Burglary Tools, Attempted Theft Under $1500 Where the Victim is 62 or Older, two counts of Acquiring Prescription Medication Without a Prescription, two counts of Theft Under $1500, seven counts of Attempted Theft Under $1500, and six counts of Criminal Mischief. He was arraigned at JP2 and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $44,900.00 secured bond.
