Police: Attempted Royal Farms Robbery Turns Violent

The Delaware State Police arrested 26-year-old Luis Andino of New Castle, Delaware, for a shoplifting turned robbery that occurred at a Royal Farms in Wilmington on Friday afternoon.

Officials said on March 14, 2025, at approximately 12:07 p.m., troopers responded to a report of a robbery at Royal Farms, located at 1031 South Market Street in Wilmington. The preliminary investigation showed that the suspect, later identified as Luis Andino, entered the business, grabbed a fountain drink, and concealed merchandise on his person police said.

A Royal Farms employee confronted Andino as he passed the cash registers with the unpaid merchandise. After the initial confrontation, Andino briefly left the business before he returned with a box cutter, and confronted the employee. Andino and the employee engaged in a verbal argument, during which Andino threw the fountain drink at the employee according to police.

Andino then began to leave the business; however, he turned around and confronted the employee a second time with the box cutter in hand. A physical altercation ensued between Andino and the employee. Shortly after, troopers arrived at the business, and Andino was taken into custody without incident. The employee was not injured.

Andino was taken to Troop 2, where he was charged with Attempted to Commit Robbery 1st Degree (Felony), arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $25,000 cash bond.