On Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 02:38 a.m., patrol officers from the New Castle County Division of Police arrested a 13-year-old male from Wilmington on multiple counts of attempted vehicle theft.
Officials said the arrest occurred after officers responded to a call regarding a vehicle theft in progress on the 300 block of River Road. The caller reported two male suspects attempting to break into a Kia. Officers conducted a property check and located the suspects breaking into a second Kia near the unit block of S Cannon Drive according to police. One suspect was apprehended without incident, while the second remains at large.
The arrested suspect was transported to New Castle County Police headquarters and was charged with two felony counts of attempted vehicle theft, four misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief, one felony count of conspiracy in the second degree, and one misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. His arraignment is pending at this time.
This arrest comes amid a series of similar incidents in New Castle County. On October 26, 2023, two juvenile males, aged 14 and 17, were arrested in Wilmington after stealing a Kia Soul. The vehicle was equipped with tracking capabilities, aiding in the suspects’ apprehension. The 17-year-old was charged with one felony count of theft of a motor vehicle, among other charges, and held in lieu of $7,000 cash bail. The 14-year-old faced charges including one felony count of possession of burglary tools and was held in lieu of $8,000 cash bail.
Additionally, on October 19, 2023, two 15-year-old males were arrested in Newark in connection with a stolen Hyundai Sonata. Both suspects faced felony counts of receiving stolen property and conspiracy in the second degree. One of the suspects was also linked to a separate stolen vehicle incident and faced additional charges, including attempted theft of a motor vehicle. Both were released on unsecured bail.
Law enforcement has been grappling with an escalating trend in vehicle thefts and attempted thefts. Over the past several months, police have responded to hundreds of vehicle thefts. Out of the 51 individuals arrested in connection with these crimes by County Police alone, 44 have been juvenile offenders.