Delaware State Police arrested 25-year-old Purcell Hocker-Osborne of Wilmington, for several shoplifting offenses following a series of thefts predominantly from Home Depot locations in New Castle County that spanned a little over a month.
Officials said between August 11, 2024, and September 14, 2024, troopers investigated several shopliftings of a similar nature from New Castle County area Home Depot stores. In each shoplifting, a black male suspect took various power tools and left the business without paying. Through investigative means, troopers identified Purcell Hocker-Osborne as the suspect responsible for 9 shopliftings from multiple Home Depot locations in New Castle County that totaled over $16,900 worth of stolen merchandise officials said Thursday. In several of the Home Depot shopliftings, Hocker-Osborne shoplifted with unknown coconspirators added police. After each incident, troopers obtained a warrant for Hocker-Osborne’s arrest and attempted to locate him.
On September 14, 2024, at approximately 8:15 p.m., troopers responded to the Best Buy, located at 4807 Concord Pike, Wilmington, for a report of a shoplifting. While responding, troopers learned an unknown black male with shoulder-length dreadlocks fled from the store with unpaid merchandise in a shopping cart and was last seen walking toward the Days Inn.
Upon arriving in the area, a trooper observed a black male, who matched the description of the suspect, in the rear parking lot of the Days Inn placing merchandise from a Best Buy shopping cart into a blue Hyundai Sonata. As the trooper approached, the suspect got into the rear seat of the sedan, and it began pulling away. The Hyundai quickly came to a stop after the trooper initiated a traffic stop, at which point, the suspect ran out of the sedan and fled toward Concord Pike. The suspect was grazed by a passing vehicle as he ran into oncoming traffic on Concord Pike. The suspect continued to flee after the impact and was ultimately taken into custody without incident after a brief foot pursuit. The suspect, identified as Hocker-Osborne, was taken to an area hospital for evaluation despite denying any injuries. The stolen merchandise from Best Buy, valued at approximately $949, was recovered from the Hyundai and returned to the store.
After Hocker-Osborne was discharged from the hospital, he was taken to Troop 1, where he was charged with Shoplifting Over $1,500 (Felony) – 5 counts, Theft – Organized Retail Crime Over $,1500 (Felony), Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony) – 3 counts, Shoplifting Under $1,500, Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree, Resisting Arrest and Multiple Traffic Violations.
He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11, and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $22,575 secured bond.