Delaware Police Arrest Pair for Organized Retail Theft at Rehoboth Beach Tanger Outlets
The Delaware State Police recently arrested two individuals (aged 30 and 24) from Delaware for organized retail crime and related offenses that occurred at multiple Tanger Outlet stores in Rehoboth Beach. According to Delaware State Police, on November 16, 2024, at approximately 4:14 p.m., a trooper responded to The North Face located on Bayside Outlet Drive, Rehoboth Beach for a report of shoplifting. Upon arriving at the store, the trooper was notified of a separate shoplifting offense in the store. According to a witness, a Black female suspect was actively concealing merchandise in her clothing. The trooper further learned of the female suspect’s coconspirator, an unknown Black male suspect, who provided a fake name and date of birth to the trooper before fleeing the store. The female suspect then entered a Honda minivan that was occupied by the male suspect and a child and fled from the parking lot.
Troopers quickly located the minivan in a nearby parking lot, and discovered the two suspects had fled from the van on foot, leaving the 4-year-old child in the van. With the assistance of several witnesses, troopers located the male suspect in a nearby business and took him into custody without incident. A search of the suspect led to the discovery of 7 blue wax fold bags containing approximately 0.21 grams of suspected heroin. The female victim was found with stolen merchandise in her minivan. According to police, the total value of the stolen merchandise was over $1,700. Both suspects were taken to Troop 7 where they were charged with the following crimes:
- Theft – Organized Retail Crime (Felony) – 2 counts
- Attempted to Commit Theft – Organized Retail Crime Over $1,500 (Felony)
- Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony) – 3 counts
- Provide False Statement to Law Enforcement (Felony)
- Criminal Impersonation
- Endangering the Welfare of a Child
- Resisting Arrest
- Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree
Theft – Organized Retail Crime
The suspects have been charged with Organized Retail Crime. The relevant Delaware statute can be found under 2 DE Code § 841B. Under the statute, a person is guilty of Organized Retail Crime when:
the person takes, exercises control over, or obtains retail merchandise of another person intending to deprive that person of it, or receives stolen property in violation of § 851 of this title, in quantities that would not normally be purchased for personal use or consumption, with the intent to appropriate or to resell or reenter the merchandise into commerce.
Sentencing for a crime like theft is dependent on the value of the items you steal. In the case mentioned above, the defendants are facing a Class E felony which is punishable by up to five years in state prison.
Talk to a Wilmington, Delaware Shoplifting and Theft Lawyer Today
The Wilmington criminal lawyers at the office of Michael W. Modica represent the interests of Delaware residents who have been charged with serious crimes. Call our office today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin advocating on your behalf right away.
Source:
dsp.delaware.gov/2024/11/20/troopers-arrest-pair-for-organized-retail-theft-at-rehoboth-beach-tanger-outlets/
