Weekly Crime Report – February 6, 2019
The following are cases of interest handled by the Newark Police Department between January 28th and February 3rd, 2019:
Burglaries
January 28th – 200 block of Smoke Rise Lane – During the overnight hours, unknown suspect(s) entered an open garage and removed various property from within an unlocked vehicle. There was no force involved and there are no known suspects in the incident.
Thefts
January 29th – 275 S. Main St. – At about 1615 hours, a victim walked into a store in the Park ‘n Shop Shopping Center. The victim placed her cellular phone on the counter and the suspect then took the victim’s phone off of the counter. There was no force involved. The suspect is described as a black female wearing blue sweat pants, a blue hoody with the hood up, a gray pea coat and a gray hat with “Cabelas” on the front. The suspect fled in a gray late 2000’s Honda Civic. Surveillance video is pending review.
Theft of a Motor Vehicle
January 29th – 300 block of Stafford Avenue – Between 0715 and 0720 hours, the victim left their vehicle running while it was warming up. The vehicle, a 2002 GMC Yukon, was recovered two days later in the parking lot of the Admiral’s Club Apartments on Fairway Road in Newark. There are no known suspects.
Three Youths Arrested For Multiple Residential Burglaries
In late 2018, Newark Police began to receive reports of burglaries to residences along the Pomeroy Trail area of Newark. The residences involved belong mostly to University of Delaware students who were away during the winter break. Residents reported that unknown suspect(s) had entered their residences and removed property from within. In some cases, entry to the residences was gained by damaging doors and/or windows. In other cases, there was no forced entry into the residences. In one case, on December 22, 2018, a resident observed a suspect in his residence armed with a gun. Through this investigation, the gun was determined to be a BB gun. The prior press release for that incident can be found here.
Upon receipt of these reports, Newark Police Detectives began to investigate the crimes. Using witness statements, surveillance cameras and covert surveillance by plain clothes officers, Newark Police were able to identify three suspects in these incidents.
On February 1, 2019, Detectives executed search warrants at the residences of all three suspects and located evidence connecting them to the crimes. All three suspects were taken into custody the same day and transported to Newark Police headquarters.
The suspects, all juveniles, have been identified as:
[expunged], 16, of Newark
Edward Schaffer, 16 of Wilmington
Joseph Quick, 16, of Bear
Each suspect had various involvement in one, some or all of the burglaries as detailed below.
[expunged] was charged with three (3) offenses: one (1) count each of Burglary 2nd Degree, Conspiracy 2nd Degree and Theft Under $1,500.
[expunged] appeared before Justice of the Peace Court #11 in New Castle and was released on $9,750 unsecured bond.
Schaffer was charged with thirty-seven (37) offenses: ten (10) counts of Burglary 2nd Degree, one (1) count of Attempted Burglary 2nd Degree, eight (8) counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree, fourteen (14) counts of Theft Under $1,500 and four (4) counts of Criminal Mischief.
Schaffer appeared before Justice of the Peace Court #11 in New Castle and was released on $75,000 unsecured bond.
Quick was charged with fifty-seven (57) offenses: sixteen (16) counts of Burglary 2nd Degree, one (1) count of Attempted Burglary 2nd Degree, ten (10) counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree, twenty-three (23) counts of Theft Under $1,500 and seven (7) counts of Criminal Mischief.
Quick appeared before Justice of the Peace Court #11 in New Castle and was ordered held in default of $117,200 secured bond. He was committed to the New Castle County Detention Center.
All three defendants will be required to appear in New Castle County Family Court at a later date.
This six week investigation cleared sixteen (16) burglaries and one (1) attempted burglary. The burglaries occurred on Choate Street, North Chapel Street, East Cleveland Avenue, Prospect Avenue, Wilbur Street, Kershaw Street and North College Avenue.
Anyone who may have additional information about these incidents is asked to contact Det. W. Anderson at (302) 366-7100 x. 3469 or wanderson@newark.de.us.
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