DSP News Release: Two Wilmington Men Arrested for Multiple Burglaries

Locations: Multiple (31) Businesses throughout Northern New Castle County

Dates of Occurrence: Between Saturday, February 5, 2011 and Thursday, may 12, 2011 

Defendants:

-David l. Lawhorn, Jr., 32, Wilmington, DE

-Brandon M. Sands, 21, Wilmington, DE

Charges:

Each defendant charged with a total of 144 crimes including:

-Burglary 3^rd Degree

-Theft

-Criminal Mischief

-Possession of Burglar Tools

-Conspiracy 2^nd degree

-Attempted Burglary

Resume:

Wilmington- Delaware State Police Troop 2 burglary detectives have arrested two men in connection with a multitude of burglaries that have occurred in the northern New Castle County, DE area since February of this year.

On Thursday, May 12, 2011 at approximately 4:15 a.m. troopers apprehended David L. Lawhorn, Jr, 32, and Brandon M. Sands, 21, as they attempted to burglarize the Pleasant Hill Bowling Lanes located in the 1000 block of W. Newport Pike, Wilmington. Sands and Lawhorn were subsequently arrested and charged with a total of 144 crimes including those listed above. They were both arraigned at JP Court 11 and then committed to the Howard Young Correctional Center for lack of $145,000 bail.

Troop 2 burglary detectives had developed both Lawhorn and Sands as suspects in a string of burglaries in which the suspects had gained entry into area businesses by disabling the alarm and then knocking holes through the walls of the targeted business. Once inside the suspects stole cash, cigarettes, and other items. On May 12^th at approximately 3:00 a.m. Sands and Lawhorn were preparing to burglarize the Valero Gas Station located in the 700 block of Old Baltimore Pike, Newark. However, they fled after a marked Delaware State Police vehicle drove by. Sands and Lawhorn then drove to the Pleasant Hill Bowling Lanes where they were caught.

Detectives are continuing their investigation into other commercial burglaries in New Castle County.

    David L. Lawhorn         Brandon M. Sands

Released Monday, May 16, 2011 at 11:50 a.m.