Delaware State Police have arrested four juveniles, two males for robbery and related charges following a carjacking that occurred Monday afternoon according to Public Information Officer, Senior Corporal Jason Hatchell.
(17-year-old of Wilmington and 16-year-old of Newark) and two females (13-year-old and 14-year-old of New Castle)
Hatchell said the incident occurred at approximately 3:25 p.m., Monday, January 3, 2021, in the parking lot of Acme, located at 1 University Plaza, Newark. The investigation determined two male suspects approached a 44-year-old female victim and her 15-year-old son while they returned to her black Dodge sedan in the parking lot.
One of the suspects forcibly removed the victim’s purse while the second suspect entered the vehicle from the passenger door and physically assaulted the juvenile victim said Hatchell. After a brief struggle with both victims, the suspects who implied they had a weapon, were able to get into the driver and front passenger seat. The suspect operating the stolen vehicle put the vehicle in reverse which threw both victims to the ground according to Hatchell. The victims were transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.
Troopers quickly identified the two male juvenile suspects, a 17-year-old of Wilmington and a 16-year-old of Newark, and obtained arrest warrants. On January 4, 2021, troopers conducted surveillance and located the stolen vehicle in front of a residence on Mackay Lane in Newark’s Brookside Development. A perimeter was established around the residence and troopers were successfully able to talk the suspects outside where they were taken into custody without incident. Also taken into custody at the residence were two female juveniles, a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old both of New Castle, who were determined to be accomplices in the carjacking said Hatchell.
Additionally, investigators linked the two juvenile males to a second carjacking that occurred on January 1, 2021, at approximately 2:41 p.m., at the BJ’s Wholesale Store located at 100 Pencader Plaza in Newark. The investigation determined the two juvenile suspects approached a 58-year-old Middletown woman in the parking lot, implied they had a weapon and demanded her car keys according to Hatchell. The suspects then forcibly removed the victim’s purse from her possession which contained the key fob to the vehicle and the suspects fled in the stolen tan Jeep Grand Cherokee added Hatchell.
The Jeep has not been recovered at this time
The four juveniles were transported to Troop 2 where they were charged with the following crimes:
Two Juvenile males
Robbery 1st Degree (Felony)- 3 Counts
Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony)- 2 Counts
Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (Felony) – 2 Counts
The two juvenile males were arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #11 and committed to the New Castle County Detention Center on $187,000 cash bond.
Two Juvenile females
Robbery 1st Degree (Felony)
Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony)
The two juvenile females were arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #11 and committed to the New Castle County Detention Center on $42,000 secured bond.
