On Monday, May 27, 2024, the New Castle County Division of Police responded to a burglary at Millers Gun Center on W. Jackson Avenue in New Castle. Arriving officers learned that a flatbed truck was used to knock down the front of the building to gain entry. The burglary resulted in the theft of numerous firearms.
On Tuesday the flatbed involved in the incident at was located behind a business in the 500 block of North Dupont Highway in New Castle. Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Unit along with investigators of The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives took possession of the truck.
On Friday officials said through their investigation Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Unit identified a 14-year-old male from Wilmington as the primary suspect. Subsequently, on Tuesday, officers from the New Castle County Mobile Enforcement Team apprehended the juvenile without incident while he was in a vehicle.
The suspect was transported to the New Castle County Police headquarters, where he faced multiple charges, including sixteen felony counts of theft of a firearm, two felony counts of third-degree burglary, one felony count of possession of a deadly weapon by a person under the age of 18, one felony count of possession of ammunition by a person under the age of 18, one felony count of theft of a motor vehicle, two misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief less than $5000, and one misdemeanor count of theft under $1500. Following his arraignment by the Justice of the Peace Court 11, the 14-year-old male was committed to the New Castle County Detention Center, unable to post a $79,000 cash bail.
Officials said further investigation showed the suspect was implicated in multiple incidents within the Delaware State Police’s jurisdiction. Delaware State Police Detectives were notified and were able to resolve several significant cases due to this connection.
Delaware State Police said beginning on May 15, 2024, at approximately 8:56 p.m., troopers responded to the Walgreens located at 802 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, for a report of a knifepoint robbery. The investigation revealed an unknown male suspect approached a Walgreens employee at the front counter and demanded money from the registers while pointing a large knife at her. The employee complied, and the suspect fled on foot towards Duncan Road with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Officials said on May 17, 2024, at approximately 2:16 a.m., troopers responded to Belak Flowers located at 832 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, for a report of a burglary. The investigation revealed an unknown male suspect gained entry into the business by utilizing a rock to break a glass window, and then stole property, money, and a set of keys belonging to a Chevrolet Express van from within. The suspect fled from the property in the stolen van, which was recovered later on the same day after it had been abandoned in the area of the Paladin Club Condominiums in Wilmington.
Between May 22, 2024, and May 27, 2024, troopers investigated 4 burglaries of a similar nature from the following medical centers in North Wilmington: Pure Wellness, Dougherty Dental Solutions, Wilmington Medical Associates, and Synergy Integrated Health. In each burglary, an unknown male suspect gained access into the medical center by utilizing a tool or brick to break glass doors/windows and stole medical supplies and money from within accoring to police.
Troop 2 Criminal Investigations Detectives in collaboration with the New Castle County Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) discovered the suspect responsible for the burglaries and robbery was the same suspect involved in similar incidents within New Castle County Police Department’s jurisdiction.
Delaware State Police have charged the teen with Robbery 1st Degree (Felony), Burglary 3rd Degree (Felony) – 6 counts, Theft of a Motor Vehicle (Felony), Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony (Felony), Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (Felony) – 3 counts, Possession of Burglar Tools (Felony) – 2 counts, Theft Under $1,500 – 6 counts, Criminal Mischief $1,000 but less than $5,000 – 3 counts, Criminal Mischief Under $1,500, The teen was arraigned by New Castle County Family Court and committed to the New Castle County Detention Center on a $25,000 cash bond.
Police did not publicly release information regarding Tuesday’s arrest until Today.
