Newark- Delaware State Police have arrested four juveniles, two males (17-year-old of Wilmington and 16-year-old of Newark) and two females (13-year-old and 14-year-old of New Castle), for robbery and related charges following a carjacking that occurred Monday afternoon.

The incident occurred at approximately 3:25 p.m., Monday, January 3, 2021, in the parking lot of Acme, located at 1 University Plaza, Newark. Investigation determined two male suspects approached a 44-year-old female victim and her 15-year-old son while they returned to her black Dodge sedan in the parking lot. One of the suspects forcibly removed the victim’s purse while the second suspect entered the vehicle from the passenger door and physically assaulted the juvenile victim. After a brief struggle with both victims, the suspects who implied they had a weapon, were able to get into the driver and front passenger seat. The suspect operating the stolen vehicle put the vehicle in reverse which threw both victims to the ground. The victims were transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.

Through investigative means, troopers quickly identified the two male juvenile suspects and obtained arrest warrants. On January 4, 2021, troopers conducted surveillance and located the stolen vehicle in front of a residence on Mackay Lane, Newark. A perimeter was established around the residence and troopers were successfully able to talk the suspects outside where they were taken into custody without incident. Also taken into custody at the residence were two female juveniles who were determined to be accomplices in the carjacking.

Additionally, investigators linked the two juvenile males to a second carjacking that occurred on January 1, 2021, at approximately 2:41 p.m., at the BJ’s Wholesale Store located at 100 Pencader Plaza, Newark. Investigation determined the two juvenile suspects approached a 58-year-old female victim of Middletown, DE, in the parking lot, implied they had a weapon, and demanded her car keys. The suspects then forcibly removed the victims purse from her possession which contained the key fob to the vehicle and the suspects fled in the stolen tan Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The Jeep has not been recovered at this time

The four juveniles were transported to Troop 2 where they were charged with the following crimes:

Two Juvenile males

• Robbery 1st Degree (Felony)- 3 Counts
• Conspiracy 2^nd Degree (Felony)- 2 Counts
• Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (Felony) – 2 Counts

The two juvenile males were arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #11 and committed to the New Castle County Detention Center on $187,000 cash bond.

Two Juvenile females

• Robbery 1st Degree (Felony)
• Conspiracy 2^nd Degree (Felony)

The two juvenile females were arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #11 and committed to the New Castle County Detention Center on $42,000 secured bond.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Armstrong of Troop 2 Criminal Investigative Unit by calling 302-365-8410. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at www.delawarecrimestoppers.com

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit/Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline 1800 VICTIM-1. (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Senior Corporal Jason Hatchell

Released: 010522 1345

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