Delaware Police Arrest Three Suspects for String of Burglaries

Delaware State Police recently arrested three men for a string of burglaries that occurred throughout New Castle County over the past two months. Two men still remain at large. Detectives are seeking assistance in locating two additional conspirators who currently remain at large.

Beginning in March 2024, troopers began investigating several burglaries and attempted burglary to commercial businesses in New Castle County. The modus operandi for the burglaries was that 2 to 4 suspects would pry open the rear doors of the business while 1 suspect remained as a lookout. The suspects then stole cash or electronic equipment and fled in either a dark-colored Dodge Ram or a silver Ford Taurus.

Police identified that the suspects were responsible for 13 burglaries and 1 attempted burglary in New Castle County between March 24, 2024, and April 29, 2024. Authorities were able to establish 5 men as suspects in the burglaries. In collaboration with out-of-state law enforcement agencies, detectives further determined that the suspects were linked to similar incidents in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and other jurisdictions here in Delaware.

On May 7, 2024, detectives executed multiple search warrants in Wilmington during which three of the five suspects were taken into custody. The two remaining suspects have felony warrants out for their arrest.

Each of the suspects will face 13 counts of Burglary in the 3rd Degree.

Burglary in the 3rd Degree 

11 DE Code § 824 defines Burglary in the 3rd Degree:

A person is guilty of burglary in the third degree when the person knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in a building with intent to commit a crime therein.

So, there are two elements to the crime of Burglary. You must unlawfully and knowingly enter a building without the right to do so, with the intent to commit a crime. The crime for which these particular defendants are charged is robbery or grand theft of merchandise from area businesses. They are facing multiple other charges related to the burglaries as well.

In this case, Burglary in the Third Degree is considered a class F felony. In Delaware, a class F felony is a nonviolent felony that can result in a conviction of up to three years in state prison. In this case, the defendants are facing 13 individual counts of Burglary in the Third Degree and another count of Attempted Burglary.

Burglary in the Second Degree is when the defendant possesses a firearm during the commission of the crime. Burglary in the First Degree is also called Home Invasion Burglary in which the suspect enters an occupied residence. The sentences for these crimes are considerably higher than Burglary in the 3rd Degree.

Talk to a Wilmington, DE Criminal Defense Lawyer Today 

If you are facing charges of burglary or related crimes, then you could be facing a substantial amount of prison time. You will need an experienced criminal defense lawyer to defend you from the charges. Call Wilmington criminal defense lawyer Michael W. Modica today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your defense strategy immediately.

Source:

dsp.delaware.gov/2024/05/10/state-police-arrest-three-suspects-and-two-remain-at-large-for-series-of-burglaries-in-new-castle-county/