The Delaware State Police have arrested 48-year-old Adrian Spence Jr. of Dover in connection with an identity theft investigation stemming from the reported theft of checks from a Hartly residence.
The investigation began on October 20, 2025, after troopers were notified that outgoing mail containing two checks had been stolen from a mailbox located in the 5700 block of Halltown Road. According to investigators, a suspicious vehicle was observed at the residence’s mailbox shortly before the mail was discovered missing. The victims subsequently contacted Shore United Bank, where a stop payment was placed on the stolen checks.
On October 21, 2025, a male subject later identified as Spence attempted to cash one of the stolen checks at the Milford branch of Shore United Bank. Authorities said the payee line on the check had been altered to reflect the suspect’s name. Bank staff identified the transaction as fraudulent, declined the attempt to negotiate the check, and notified the victims. Detectives later confirmed Spence as the suspect through further investigation.
A warrant was issued for Spence’s arrest, and on December 4, 2025, the Dover Police Department took him into custody while he was being contacted on an unrelated matter. He was transported to Delaware State Police Troop 3, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and released on a $3,500 unsecured bond. He faces felony charges of identity theft, theft of $1,500 or greater, and second-degree forgery.
