Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley

Troopers Arrest Three Teens for Multiple Felony Thefts Following Pursuit in Stolen Chevrolet

Date Posted: Thursday, November 23rd, 2023

News Release

The Delaware State Police arrested a 16-year-old male and two 15-year-old males of Claymont, Delaware, for numerous felony charges following multiple shopliftings and a pursuit in a stolen vehicle that occurred Wednesday afternoon in Rehoboth Beach.

On November 22, 2023, at approximately 3:19 p.m., troopers were dispatched to Under Armour located at 36698 Bayside Outlet Drive, Rehoboth Beach, for a report of a shoplifting. The suspects were reported to have fled northbound on Coastal Highway in a tan Chevrolet Cruze with Pennsylvania registration. A responding trooper observed the Chevrolet traveling northbound on Coastal Highway in the area of Melson Road. The trooper initiated a traffic stop, which the Chevrolet disregarded as it proceeded to run a red light and flee northbound. A short time later, the Chevrolet came to a stop after it drove over a median and struck another vehicle while attempting to make a right turn onto Dartmouth Drive at a high rate of speed. After the collision, the driver and the two passengers exited the Chevrolet and fled on foot while disregarding all verbal commands by troopers. The driver, identified as a 16-year-old male, and the two passengers, both identified as 15-year-old males, were ultimately taken into custody without incident.

In the ensuing investigation, troopers discovered the three juveniles had shoplifted over $5,000 worth of merchandise from Under Armour, Nike, and The North Face located in the Tanger Bayside Outlets. A computer inquiry of the Chevrolet’s tag revealed the Pennsylvania tag was fictitious, and the vehicle was reported as stolen out of Troop 1 on October 14, 2023.

All three suspects were taken to Troop 7, where they were charged with the following crimes:

16-year-old male: