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

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Chris Quigley is a Staff Writer and Community News Correspondent for Shore News Network, where she covers local government, public safety, community affairs, politics, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and relevant news that helps readers stay informed about the communities in which they live and work.

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Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

Degrees: Business B.A. - Stockton University

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