[media-credit name=”(L – R ) Edward Adkins – Adrian Jefferson – Carianne Weikel” align=”aligncenter” width=”1430″]
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Newark – The Newark Police (NPD) have arrested three subjects in a rash of package thefts that occurred over the past week on the west side of the city, according to Sgt. Gerald Bryda.
Bryda said on Thursday, July 19, 2018, at approximately 4:40 p.m. the Newark Police responded to Munro Road for a report that multiple suspects stole packages from the front porches of two residences. The property stolen was valued at approximately $600.
On Tuesday, July 24, 2018, officers responded to Munro Road for a report of a package theft from a front porch which occurred the day prior on Monday, July 23, 2018, at approximately 7:30 p.m. The property stolen was valued at approximately $200.
On Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at approximately 2:50 p.m. officers responded to the Christina Mill Apartment complex for a report that multiple packages were stolen from five separate apartments at that location. The property stolen was valued at approximately $2,600.
Video and photo surveillance images were obtained from all of the incidents, which showed four different suspects and their vehicles, said Bryda. Officers were able to immediately identify 26-year-old Edward Adkins of Newark in one of the videos from prior police contact. As the investigation continued, officers were also able to identify 25-year-old Adrian Jefferson of Wilmington and 27-year-old Carianne Weikel of Newark. The fourth suspect, who has been identified, is still being sought.
On Thursday, July 26, 2018, at approximately 4:45 p.m. the Newark Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle, which contained the three defendants, as it was traveling on Westfield Drive. All three were taken into custody without incident. A search warrant was executed on the vehicle and additional evidence was located, said Bryda.
The three were charged as follows:
Edward Adkins:
Theft Under $1500 (8 Counts)
Conspiracy 3rd Degree (3 Counts)
Driving While Suspended or Revoked (2 Counts)
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Failure to Have Insurance in Possession
Edward Adkins was arraigned through Justice of the Peace Court #11 and issued $5,600 secured bond. Adkins was transported to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of bail.
Adrian Jefferson:
Theft Under $1500 (7 Counts)
Conspiracy 3rd Degree (2 Counts)
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Adrian Jefferson was arraigned through Justice of the Peace Court #11 and issued $1,800 secured bond. Jefferson was transported to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institute in lieu of bail.
Carianne Weikel:
Theft Under $1500 (5 Counts)
Conspiracy 3rd Degree
Weikel was arraigned through Justice of the Peace Court #2 and released after being issued $3,500 unsecured bond.
The Newark Police are seeking additional victims of any recent unreported package thefts, as property has been located during the investigation that has not yet been linked to a possible victim.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Officer McKennon at 302-366-7100 ext. 3491 or [email protected].
Adkins and Jefferson were arrested by NPD in March for a similar incident back in March of this year.
Newark – On March 26, 2018, Newark Police responded to a residence in the unit block of Sue Lane for a report of a theft of a package. At about 1:50 pm on March 26th, a neighbor of the victim observed a green Lexus pull up to the victim’s residence. The neighbor observed a female exit the vehicle, approach the victim’s residence and remove a package from the front steps of the residence, according to Lt. Andrew Rubin.
Rubin said at the same time, an employee of the City of Newark Public Works and Water Resources Department observed the same conduct. The City employee then followed the vehicle, while he contacted police, and observed it stop at another residence in the 1200 block of Barksdale Road The female exited the vehicle and removed another package from the front of the residence and the vehicle left the area, said Rubin. The City employee provided police with a license plate number.
During the investigation, Newark Police identified the driver of the vehicle as Edward Adkins, 26, of Newark. Newark Officers went to the last known address for Adkins in the 1600 block of Otts Chapel Road in Newark. Once at the residence, officers observed the Lexus in the driveway and stopped the vehicle as it was leaving the residence. Through investigation, officers identified Adkins as the driver during the thefts and Adrian Jefferson, 25, of Claymont as the female involved in the thefts, said Rubin.
During a search of the vehicle and the residence, officers located the property stolen from the two thefts described above, according to Rubin. In addition, officers located packages that had been stolen from a residence in the unit block of Julie Lane and the 900 block of Pickett Lane, added Rubin.
Adkins was taken into custody at the scene and charged with Theft Under $1500 (misdemeanor) (4 counts), Conspiracy 3rd Degree (misdemeanor). He appeared before Justice of the Peace Court #2 and was released on $5,000 unsecured bond.
On March 27, 2018, an arrest warrant was issued by Justice of the Peace Court #2 for the arrest of Adrian Jefferson for Theft Under $1500 (misdemeanor) (4 counts), Conspiracy 3rd Degree (misdemeanor). Newark Police are actively looking for her at this time.
Anyone with information as to the location of Jefferson is asked to call Newark Police at (302) 366-7111.
Anyone with additional information as to these incidents is asked to contact Officer Carter McKennon at (302) 366-7100 x. 3491 or by e-mail at [email protected].