Newark teen arrested in connection with two smoke shop burglaries
NEWARK, DE — A 17-year-old boy has been charged in connection with two overnight burglaries at the same Newark smoke shop last week that each resulted in thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise, Delaware State Police said Thursday.
The first break-in happened around 4:00 a.m. on September 23 at The Smoke Shop in Salem Village Square. Troopers determined that a masked suspect forced entry and stole electronic cigarettes and related products valued at roughly $2,000.
Just one day later, on September 24 at the same time in the morning, the business was hit again. Investigators said the suspect used similar methods to break in and stole another $2,000 worth of merchandise.
Detectives later identified a 17-year-old male from Newark as the suspect and obtained a warrant for his arrest. On September 30, troopers took him into custody and transported him to Troop 2 for processing.
The teen was charged with two counts each of wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony, burglary in the third degree, possession of burglar tools, theft, and criminal mischief. He was arraigned in New Castle County Family Court and released on a $5,000 unsecured bond.
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Key Points
- A Newark smoke shop was burglarized twice in two days, each time with $2,000 in merchandise stolen
- Investigators identified a 17-year-old male suspect and obtained a warrant for his arrest
- The teen was arrested September 30 and charged with burglary, theft, and related offenses before being released on bond