Presented by Public Information Officer Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Hartly, DE – A Hartly couple have been arrested in connection with over 20 burglaries to residences, garages and shed within the Amish communities.

The incidents began occurring around May 27, 2016 and continued through June 16, 2016 when a number of residences and out buildings located throughout Hartly, Marydel, and west Dover areas began experiencing break-ins. During the crimes, the suspect(s) would remove items such as, lawn and garden equipment, power tools, chainsaws, pressure washers, and cash.  As detectives continued to look into the rash of burglaries, information was obtained through investigative measures that Harvey M. Coblentz, 26 of Hartly, who was ex-Amish, was the primary suspect in this incidents due to his burgundy colored pick-up truck being seen driving slowly around the area of the houses involved in the crimes.

On Saturday June 18, 2016 around 6:30 a.m., Coblentz’s truck was observed parked on the side of the road by a trooper patrolling in the area of the 900 block of Grygo Road, Marydel. A traffic stop was conducted on the burgundy 2000 Chevrolet Silverado and contact was made with Coblentz who was operating the truck.  His girlfriend, Peggy S. Wright, 31 of Hartly, was a passenger in the truck and a computer inquiry revealed both of them to have capiases out of Kent County Court of Common Pleas and Wright was also listed as a missing person in which a Gold Alert was issued on February 28, 2016.

Harvey Coblentz and Peggy Wright were both transported back to Troop 3 in Camden where they were arraigned and committed to the Delaware Department of Corrections on the capiases. On Wednesday June 22, 2016 detectives charged both Coblentz and Wright with a total of 62 charges with various counts of Burglary 2^nd, Conspiracy 2^nd, Criminal Mischief, and Theft.  They both remain incarcerated within the state prison system in default of bond.

The investigation into these burglaries continue as detectives continue to track down the equipment stolen from the victims.

Released: 062416 0940

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