On January 1, 2024, at 2:05 p.m., patrol officers were dispatched to the 1100 block of Varsity Lane for a report of several suspects breaking into cars. It was further reported that the suspects were driving a blue Kia SUV.
Officials said officers arrived at the area and observed the blue Kia and a white Hyundai Sonata exiting the apartment complex. Officers attempted to stop the vehicles, however both fled at a high rate of speed. Officers chased after the Kia but ended the pursuit because the suspect drove erratically while committing multiple traffic violations.
Officers located the Kia Sportage again in New Castle. The vehicle again fled into Wilmington, colliding with a parked vehicle near North Tatnall Street and West 14th Street. Multiple suspects then exited and ran in different directions. Officers responded to the area and were able to take three suspects into custody after multiple foot pursuits.
The suspects were identified as:
14-year-old male from Wilmington. He was charged with two felony counts of disregarding a police officer’s signal, one misdemeanor count of resisting arrest, one misdemeanor count of leaving the scene of an accident, one misdemeanor count of reckless driving, two felony counts of receiving stolen property, one felony count of conspiracy in the second degree, and multiple traffic violations. He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $11,600 secured bail.
14-year-old male from Wilmington. He was charged with one felony count of receiving stolen property, one felony count of conspiracy in the second degree, and one misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released on $1,500 unsecured bail.
15-year-old male from Wilmington. He was charged with one felony count of receiving stolen property, one felony count of conspiracy in the second degree, and one misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $1,500 secured bail.
The Kia Sportage was determined to have been stolen on December 27, 2023, from the Village at Fox Point apartments. The Hyundai Sonata was stolen on January 1, 2024, from the Villas apartments. The Sonata is still missing currently. It appears that the juveniles conducted multiple thefts and attempted thefts before being contacted by officers. If you have any surveillance footage related to these incidents or the two stolen motor vehicles, please contact the New Castle County Division of Police.
This incident is the latest in a series of similar incidents that have been drawing on police resources for sometime now.