DSP News Release: Two Arrested Following Burglary Investigation

Locations:

• Homes located in Harrington, Felton, Camden, Milford, Dover, and Frederica areas

Date of Occurrence:  Between September and November of 2011

Defendants:  

• Tina L. Creed, 25, Felton, DE

Arraigned at JP Court 2 and released after posting $19,500 bond.

• John J. Kossman, 26, Felton, DE

Arraigned at JP Court 2 and committed to the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center for lack of $6000.00 bond.

Charges:

• Multiple charges to include Burglary 2^nd Degree, Theft, Conspiracy 2^nd Degree, Conspiracy 3^rd Degree, and Selling Stolen Property

Resume: 

Dover, DE- Delaware State Police detectives have arrested two subjects following a series of thefts from homes by an employee of a cleaning company.

On Tuesday, November 29, detectives arrested Tina L. Creed, 25, and John J. Kossman, 26, on burglary and related offenses following a two month investigation into a series of thefts from homes in the Harrington, Felton, Camden, Milford, Dover, and Frederica areas. The arrests came after detectives assigned to investigate numerous residential burglaries realized that in all of the cases the homeowners hired the Superior Maids Cleaning Service, located in Felton, DE, to provided cleaning services for their homes. Detectives were then able to identify Tina Creed, who was employed by Superior Maids, as a suspect in the crimes. Investigators learned that while cleaning the homes, Creed would remove jewelry and other personal items from the houses and then she, as well as her boyfriend John Kossman, would sell the items at local pawn shops. A subsequent search of the defendant’s residence located in Felton, DE revealed items linking the two to the thefts.

Tina Creed and John Kossman were charged with the above list of crimes. Creed was arraigned at JP Court 2 and released after posting bail. John Kossman was committed to the Department of Corrections after failing to post $6000.00 bail.

Detectives are asking anyone who may have hired the Superior Maids Cleaning Service and have found items missing from their homes to contact Cpl. Shawn Doherty in the Property Crimes Unit at Troop 3 at 302-741-2817.

Citizens may also provide a tip by texting keyword “DSP” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES).  Tipsters may also provide information through lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333. Callers can also submit information via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.

           Tina L. Creed                      John J. Kossman

Released Tuesday, December 06, 2011 at 10:40 a.m.