Delaware State Police are currently investigating a strong-arm robbery of two victims which occurred in the parking lot of a New Castle convenience store, according to Director of Public Information, Sergeant Richard Bratz.
Richard Bratz said the preliminary investigation has determined the incident occurred at approximately 11:40 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, 2019, as troopers responded to a robbery complaint at the Wawa convenience store parking lot located at 4000 North DuPont Highway in New Castle.
The investigation determined that two juveniles were walking to the Wawa when they crossed Route 13 and made contact with the occupants of a vehicle traveling on Route 13. The driver yelled at the victims for being in the road and then turned into the parking lot of the Wawa. The black female front seat passenger exited the vehicle and confronted one of the victims, acco0ring to Bratz.
The suspect poked the victim’s face and then attempted to take goggles off of the victim but she held onto them. The same suspect then confronted the other victim and took a set of Air Pods from his ears. At the same time, a black male suspect exited the vehicle and approached them and demanded the case for the Air Pods. The victim declined to hand them over and the suspect tripped him and he fell to the ground. The suspect rummaged through his pockets and ultimately took the Air Pods case and a cell phone from him, according to Bratz. The male suspect then punched the victim for refusing to give him the passcode to the cell phone. The suspects fled in a red vehicle driving north on North DuPont Highway. No victims reported injuries.
There appeared to be five people in the car. The driver was described as an obese black female that appeared to be in her early 20’s. Only a female in the front passenger seat and a male exited the vehicle. The female who exited the vehicle was described as a black female that was approximately 5’00” feet tall about 19 years old with her hair pulled back wearing a white shirt. The male suspect was described as a black male that appeared to be 15-16 years old approximately 5’05” tall with a thin build and short hair.
If anyone has any information in reference to this incident they are asked to contact the Robbery Unit at Troop 2 at 302-365-8566. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.