Man arrested after shoplifting escalates to armed robbery at wilmington royal farms
Delaware State Police - File Photo.

Man arrested after shoplifting escalates to armed robbery at Wilmington Royal Farms

WILMINGTON, Del. — A New Castle man was arrested Friday afternoon after a shoplifting incident at a Royal Farms escalated into a robbery involving a box cutter, Delaware State Police said.

Troopers responded to the store at 1031 South Market Street at approximately 12:07 p.m. on March 14. Their investigation determined that Luis Andino, 26, had taken a fountain drink and concealed merchandise before attempting to leave without paying.

A store employee confronted Andino, who briefly left but then returned with a box cutter and engaged in a verbal altercation. During the dispute, Andino threw the drink at the employee and attempted to leave but then turned back and confronted the worker again with the weapon. A physical struggle ensued before troopers arrived and took Andino into custody without incident.

The employee was not injured, and no other customers were harmed.

Andino was transported to Troop 2, where he was charged, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $25,000 cash bond.

Shore News Network Staff Report

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.