On May 8, 2021, at about 1100 hours, Newark Police responded to a residence in the 100 block of South Chapel Street for a reported burglary.  The residents reported that sometime in the early morning hours, an unknown suspect entered the residence and removed personal property from inside.

An investigation at the scene revealed that the doors to the residence had been left unlocked.  Area surveillance cameras captured an unknown suspect entering and leaving the residence in the early morning hours and walking through the rear yard carrying property from within the residence.  The video is not currently available for release.

Residents are reminded that locking the doors to your residence and vehicles at all times is any easy deterrent to theft.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Det. W. Anderson at (302) 366-7100 x. 3469 or wanderson@newark.de.us. Additional methods for providing information to Newark Police can be found on our tips page, where reward information may also be available.

On April 6, 2021, Newark Police responded to a parking garage in the 100-block of East Main Street for a report of a subject breaking into a vehicle.  Officers contacted the victim who advised that an unknown male suspect entered a vehicle and rummaged through items within.  Nothing was taken from the vehicle and the vehicle was not damaged.

On May 4, 2021,Newark Police responded to the same parking garage for a report of a subject breaking into a vehicle.  Officers detained a suspect at the scene.  A review of surveillance video showed the suspect attempting to enter a vehicle by pulling on its door handle.  However, the doors were locked. Comparison of the videos revealed that the suspect detained was the same suspect in both incidents.

The suspect was identified as Joseph Knapp, 24, of Bear.

Knapp was transported to Newark Police headquarters where he was charged with:

• Burglary Third Degree (3 counts)
• Attempted Burglary Third Degree

Knapp appeared before Justice of the Peace Court #11 by video and was ordered to be held in default of $4,000 secured bail.  Knapp was turned over to the custody of the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington.