NEWARK, DE — A 56-year-old Wilmington man now faces multiple felony charges after Delaware State Police linked him to two armed convenience store robberies in New Castle County earlier this month, including one case that ended with a police pursuit and an abandoned getaway car.
Michael Reynolds was arrested after investigators connected him to robberies at a Shore Stop in Newark and a Shell gas station in New Castle on consecutive nights in early May, according to Delaware State Police. Authorities said Reynolds allegedly used a knife during both holdups before escaping with cash.
Police said no injuries were reported in either robbery.
Back-to-Back Store Robberies Trigger Investigation
The first robbery happened around 8:15 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, at the Shore Stop located at 796 South Old Baltimore Pike in Newark.
Investigators said a masked man armed with a knife entered the store, approached the clerk, and demanded money from the register. The employee complied, and the suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash before troopers arrived.
Less than 24 hours later, another robbery unfolded at the Shell gas station at 3001 New Castle Avenue in New Castle.
According to Delaware State Police, a man armed with a knife approached two clerks inside the station around 7:30 p.m. Monday and demanded money from the register. After taking cash, the suspect fled in a white Ford Taurus.
Troopers later spotted the vehicle in Wilmington and attempted a traffic stop, police said. The driver refused to pull over, leading authorities on a brief pursuit before escaping.
Investigators eventually found the Ford Taurus abandoned near Wilson Street and East 13th Street in Wilmington.
Key Points
• Delaware State Police charged a Wilmington man in two armed convenience store robberies
• Police said the suspect used a knife during robberies in Newark and New Castle
• Troopers pursued the suspect’s vehicle before finding it abandoned in Wilmington
Detectives Link Suspect to Additional Investigations
Through investigative efforts, detectives identified Michael Reynolds as the suspect connected to both robberies and secured an arrest warrant, according to state police.
Authorities also said Reynolds became a suspect in additional incidents being investigated by both the New Castle County Police Department and the Wilmington Police Department during the same timeframe. Officials did not release further details about those investigations.
Reynolds was already in the custody of the Wilmington Police Department when Delaware State Police formally charged him Friday.
Court records show Reynolds was arraigned through Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Delaware Department of Correction on a $420,000 cash bond.
Police have not released the full list of charges tied to the robberies.
Armed Robberies Targeted Local Convenience Stores
Both robberies occurred at businesses commonly open during evening hours and serving regular customer traffic across New Castle County.
Investigators did not say whether surveillance footage from either location helped identify Reynolds, though authorities credited investigative work for connecting the cases.
The incidents reflect a pattern often seen in convenience store robberies, where suspects target accessible cash registers during nighttime operations before quickly fleeing the area.
The investigation remains active, and police have not said whether additional charges could follow from the related cases being handled by other law enforcement agencies.
