DSP News Release:  Duo Charged in Sussex Daytime Burglaries 

Location:

·         Unit block Sussex Drive Lewes, De (Highland Acres)

·         Unit block Ocean Breeze Rehoboth, De (Rehoboth Shores Estates)

·         Two houses 16000 and 17000 block  Oak Road Bridgeville, De

·         24000 block Hollyville Road Millsboro, De

·         Two houses 19000 block Plantation Road Lewes, DE

·         Unit block Pine Tree Circle Lewes, De (Love Creek Woods)

·         Two houses 100 block Williams Way Lewes, De (Bookhammer Estates)

·         23000 block John J. Williams Highway Lewes, De

·         Two houses 33000 block  Wandering Lane Lewes, De (Fox Hollow)

·         26000 block Fire Tower Road Laurel, De

·         Two houses 22000 block Park Avenue Georgetown, De

·         20000 block Gravel Hill Road Georgetown, De

·         30000 block Conaway Road Georgetown, De

·         24000 block Shortly Road Georgetown, De

DATE and TIME: 

·         Burglaries committed between May 6, 2011 and May 27, 2011

Victim(s):

·         23 different victims

Defendant(s) Charge(s) and Bond Information:

·         David A. Honeycutt-33 Lewes, De

·         16 counts Burglary Second Degree

·         Attempted Burglary Second Degree

·         9 counts Theft $1,500 or Greater

·         9 counts Theft under $1,500

·         Theft of a Firearm

·         13 counts Criminal Mischief under $1,000

·         3 counts Conspiracy Second Degree

·         Sussex Correctional Institute $116,550 secured bond

·         Catherine N. Manning-23 Georgetown, De

·         16 counts Burglary Second Degree

·         Attempted Burglary Second Degree

·         9 counts Theft $1,500 or Greater

·         9 counts Theft under $1,500

·         Theft of a Firearm

·         13 counts Criminal Mischief under $1,000

·         3 counts Conspiracy Second Degree

·         Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institute $113,500 secured bond

Resume:

Bridgeville/Laurel/Millsboro/Georgetown/Lewes:

Delaware State Police Troop 4 detectives have charged a Sussex County duo, in connection to multiple “Daytime” burglaries spread across Sussex County Delaware. 

State Police detectives on May 6^th began experiencing a spike in reported daytime burglaries to houses in the areas patrolled by Troop 5 Bridgeville, Troop 4 Georgetown and Troop 7 Lewes Delaware. 

During the daytime burglaries the suspects made entry into residences by either prying open windows or through unsecured sliding glass doors.  In a majority of the burglaries the suspects removed jewelry, valuable coins and money.  An estimated $70,000 worth of jewelry was taken during the burglary spree. 

State Police detectives on May 27^th encountered a break with the burglary investigations.  Troopers on routine patrol on Conaway Road Georgetown Delaware were flagged down by a concerned citizen.  The concerned citizen told Troopers of a suspicious male and a red Ford Fusion at their neighbor’s residence.

When the Troopers arrived at the residence on Conaway Road they detained the occupants of the vehicle, David A. Honeycutt-33 of Lewes and Catherine N. Manning-23 of Georgetown. 

A subsequent investigation to the traffic stop revealed Honeycutt attempting to conceal jewelry taken from the residence on Conaway Road.  State Police additionally learned of a second burglary attempt which occurred on Shortly Road.  The Shortly Road burglary was also linked to Honeycutt and Manning. 

State Police May 27^th charged Honeycutt with Burglary, Attempted Burglary Possession of Burglar Tools, Theft, criminal mischief and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Honeycutt was incarcerated into Sussex Correctional Institute in lieu of $13,050 secured bond.  Manning was however released and subsequently charged May 28^th for the Conaway and Shortly Road burglaries. 

On May 28^th 2011 Delaware State Police began conducting a follow up investigation into the previous day’s arrest.  State Police detectives probed deeper into the activities of Honeycutt and Manning and learned they were willing participants in the May 27^th burglaries. 

Detectives were able to link both Honeycutt and Manning to numerous other daytime residential burglaries.  As previously mentioned a large quantity of jewelry was taken during these burglaries. 

A common practice of those committing burglaries is to pawn the items in order to obtain cash.  State Police detectives discovered Honeycutt and Manning pawned jewelry at Cool Cash Pawn Shop located on Lewes-Georgetown Highway Georgetown Delaware. 

State Police detectives learned an undisclosed number of employees purchased stolen jewelry without complying with Delaware Pawn laws requiring the recordation of data on all purchased merchandise.  Additional alleged violations of Delaware Pawn laws were also discovered by detectives, who immediately initiated an emergency suspension of the store’s pawn license pending an administrative hearing.  (I’m unaware as to who is involved with the administrative hearing proceedings)

State Police detectives are continuing their investigation into Cool Cash Pawn Shop employees.  This is an ongoing investigation which could lead to additional criminal arrest. 

Honeycutt and Manning have been linked to 19 residential daytime burglaries in Delaware State Police’s jurisdiction.  Honeycutt and Manning were also linked to 6 additional burglaries within the jurisdiction of Rehoboth Beach and Georgetown Police Departments. 

Honeycutt was charged with 55 crimes related to Burglary, theft, conspiracy, criminal mischief, and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Honeycutt is remanded to Sussex Correctional Institute in lieu of $116,550 secured bond. 

Today Manning was charged with 49 crimes related to Burglary, theft, conspiracy, and criminal mischief.  Manning is remanded to the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institute in lieu of $113,500 secured bond. 

Arrest Date Clarification: 

Honeycutt was initially charged with burglaries which occurred on Conaway and Shortly Roads May 27^th 2011 (6 total charges).  Honeycutt was charged June 1^st with 49 additional crimes related to burglaries.  (Total 55)

Manning was initially charged May 28^th burglaries which occurred on Conaway and Shortly Roads (4 total charges).  Manning was charged again June 2^nd with 49 additional crimes related to burglaries. (Total 53)

    David A. Honeycutt         Catherine N. Manning