UPDATE: ARREST MADE IN SUPER G PARKING LOT ROBBERY

Original Release Information:

7:19 p.m. The first robbery occurred in the parking lot of the Super G grocery store located at 19312 Lighthouse Plaza Boulevard Rehoboth Beach.  This robbery occurred as a 70 year old Rehoboth Beach resident was about to acquire a shopping cart.  A white male suspect apparently loitering near the entrance to the store approached the victim from behind and ripped away her purse.  The suspect after acquiring the victim’s purse fled the area.

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

• Christopher D. Radcliffe-32 Millsboro, DE
• Jennifer A. Radcliffe-32 Millsboro, DE (WIFE)
• Both were charged with:
• Robbery First Degree a Crime Against a Person 62 Years or Older
• Conspiracy Second Degree
• Christopher Radcliffe committed to Sussex Correctional Institute on $17,000 secured bond
• Jennifer Radcliffe committed to the Women’s Correctional Institute on $3,000 secured bond

Resume Update:

Rehoboth Beach-State Police Friday March 18, 2011 arrested a Millsboro couple in connection to a February 26^th robbery of a 70 year old Rehoboth Beach woman.  Christopher D. Radcliffe and his wife Jennifer A. Radcliffe are both being charged with Robbery and Conspiracy charges. 

During the February robbery the victim’s purse was ripped from her possession by Christopher Radcliffe.  Christopher Radcliffe then fled through the parking lot with the victim’s purse and was picked up by his wife Jennifer Radcliffe.  

On March 16, 2011 State Police was contacted by the victim concerning checks stolen during the February robbery that were starting to be used.  Checks were one of several items inside the victim’s purse at the time of the robbery.  State Police learned the checks were being used at several Sussex County retail locations. 

Video surveillance photos obtained at locations where the checks were being used were then circulated throughout the Law Enforcement community and led to the identification of Jennifer Radcliffe and eventually Christopher.

Subsequent interviews conducted by State Police detectives revealed that Jennifer Radcliffe dropped Christopher Radcliffe off in order to commit the crime.  Jennifer then picked up Christopher in another area of the parking lot and fled the scene. 

Christopher and Jennifer Radcliffe were both charged with Robbery and Conspiracy charges, and then remanded to their respective correctional institutions in lieu of posting bond.  

(The three other robberies listed I believe are still under investigation, however I will need to contact the detective for confirmation)

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DSP News Release:  State Police Investigating Multiple Saturday Evening Rehoboth/ Lewes area Robberies

Date/ Time/ Location(s):  All occurred February 26, 2011

• (7:19 p.m.)  19312 Lighthouse Plaza Blvd. Rehoboth Beach, DE (Super G parking lot)
• (8:58 p.m.) East Atlantic Apartments Rehoboth Beach, DE
• (9:13 p.m.) 100 block Beachfield Road Rehoboth Beach, DE
• (9:20 p.m.) 17663 Coastal Highway (Entrance to Savannah West Apartments) Lewes, DE

Victim(s):

• 1 Female and 3 male victims

Suspect(s):

• (Super G) White Male 5’09”-6’00”, 160-200 lbs., brown wavy/curly hair
• (East Atlantic Apt.) 2 black males, no further description
• (Beachfield Road) Male, no further description
• (Savannah West) 2 black males, no further description

 Resume:

 Rehoboth Beach/ Lewes-Saturday evening February 26, 2011 Delaware State Police investigated 3 Rehoboth Beach and 1 Lewes area robbery.  The robberies all occurred within a 4 hour time frame. 

7:19 p.m. The first robbery occurred in the parking lot of the Super G grocery store located at 19312 Lighthouse Plaza Boulevard Rehoboth Beach.  This robbery occurred as a 70 year old Rehoboth Beach resident was about to acquire a shopping cart.  A white male suspect apparently loitering near the entrance to the store approached the victim from behind and ripped away her purse.  The suspect after acquiring the victim’s purse fled the area.

8:58 p.m.  The second robbery reported to police occurred in the area of East Atlantic Apartments Rehoboth Beach off of Wolfe Neck Road and Coastal Highway.  The male victim was approached by two black males who allegedly choked the victim with a chain.  The suspects took the victim’s wallet and fled the crime scene. 

9:13 p.m.  State Police less than 20 minutes after the Atlantic Apartments robbery next responded to a Home Invasion in the 100 block of Beachfield Road Rehoboth Beach off of Munchy Branch Road.  Investigators learned that an 81 year old victim was in his kitchen when he heard a loud bang.  The suspect forced entry into the residence and sprayed an unknown substance into the victim’s face.  The suspect, only described as a male, then took the victim’s wallet and fled. 

9:20 p.m.  Shortly after investigating the Beachfield Road Home Invasion State Police were yet again responding to a robbery complaint.  This robbery occurred at the entrance to the Savannah West apartment complex in the 17000 block of Coastal Highway Lewes.  State Police discovered that a male victim was approached by two black males.  One of the suspects is alleged have struck the victim with an unknown weapon.  The suspects robbed the victim of an undisclosed amount of United State Currency and fled.  

Delaware State Police are still attempting to gather additional suspect and investigative information concerning the Saturday evening robberies.  Currently the robberies are being investigated as unrelated incidents; however Detectives will not dismiss the possibility of one or more of these crimes as being potentially related.  

To offer information regarding these investigations, please contact the Delaware State Police at 302-856-5850 ext. 206.

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Citizens may also provide a tip by texting keyword “DSP” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES). 

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Tipsters may also call to 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.

Christopher D. Radcliffe