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Delaware State Police
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Seaford Siblings Charged With Stealing Copper and Steele Valued in the Thousands Released-Friday, March 28, 2008 Bridgeville-Detectives assigned to the Troop 4 Property Crimes Unit completed a four day investigation into thefts of metal from a local irrigation and services business. The investigation began on Tuesday after an employee of O.A. Newton Company reported a theft of property from the business located at 16356 Sussex Highway in near Bridgeville. According to the employee, the thefts occurred during the evening of Thursday, March 20, 2008. The suspects allegedly cut a hole in the fence causing $500.00 in damage. The thieves then removed approximately $3,000.00 in copper welding lead. The bandits struck the business again sometime during the early morning hours of Monday, March 24, 2008. This time, the suspects returned and cut another hole in the fence. Again the damage was estimated at $500.00. The suspects then removed thirty-one stainless steel centerline irrigation pipes valued at $11,000.00. Based on the above criminal activity, detectives from the Troop 4 Property Crimes Unit conducted surveillance on the business during the evening of March 27th into the early morning hours of March 28, 2008. Today at approximately 1:50 a.m. detectives observed a vehicle drive south off SR404A along the rear of O.A. Newton. This vehicle remained at that location for approximately ten minutes before driving off. Troopers and detectives followed the vehicle, a maroon Ford Taurus bearing Delaware registration. Officers conducted a vehicle stop on the vehicle on Blanchard Road. The operator of this vehicle was identified as Josh E. Holt, 21, of Seaford and the passenger was identified as Andrea E. Holt 28, also of Seaford. During the car stop eleven pieces of stainless steel centerline irrigation piping were observed and seized from the rear of the vehicle. This material was valued at approximately $3,903.24, and belonged to O.A. Newton. Both subjects were taken into custody and transported to Troop 5. A search of Josh Holt’s vehicle revealed a small plastic baggie of green leafy substance. This item was located between the driver’s seat and the center console. A glass pipe was found next to the baggie. These items were seized and the suspected marijuana field tested positive for the presence of THC/Marijuana. The marijuana weighed 3.3 grams. Troopers also located bolt cutters in the vehicle. Both suspects were interviewed at Troop 5 and confessed to entering a hole in O.A. Newton’s fence. Both subjects confessed to stealing the items in the vehicle from the storage yard. Josh Holt also confessed to cutting a hole in O.A. Newton’s fence on Monday with the pair of bolt cutters. Josh Holt confessed to stealing the other thirty-one pieces of stainless irrigation. He also stated that he performed the theft Monday, March 24, 2008 by himself. Josh Holt denied performing the theft Friday, March 21, 2008 however, that theft occurred in the same fashion as the others. As a result of their investigative efforts troopers charged Josh E. Holt with the following criminal offenses: three counts of Theft (F), three counts of Possession of Burglary Tools (F), two counts of Criminal Mischief (M), three counts of Criminal Trespass 2nd Degree (M), Conspiracy 2nd Degree (F), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M), and Possession of Marijuana (M). Josh E. Holt was arraigned at the Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution in lieu of $18,500.00 secured bond. Andrea E. Holt was arrested in connection with the thefts that occurred today. She was formally charged with Theft (F), Possession of Burglar Tools (F), Conspiracy2nd Degree (F), and Criminal Trespass 2nd Degree (M). She was arraigned at the Justice of the Peace Court 3 and released on $2,500.00 unsecured bond. |
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