Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel William Crotty

State Police Arrest Teen for Vehicle Theft in Smyrna

Date Posted: Wednesday, April 24th, 2024

News Release

Delaware State Police arrested a 17-year-old male of Townsend, Delaware, for stealing a Ford Explorer from a residence in Smyrna earlier this month.

On April 4, 2024, at approximately 5:03 a.m., troopers responded to a residence on the 5500 block of Dupont Parkway, Smyrna, for a report of a vehicle theft. Upon arriving, troopers learned an unknown suspect stole the victim’s gray 2020 Ford Explorer from her driveway. During the investigation, troopers discovered the suspect attempted to gain entry into multiple vehicles on Dupont Parkway leading up to him stealing the victim’s unlocked Ford. The Ford was recovered on April 5, 2024, after it was found abandoned on the shoulder of Red Hill Road in Maryland by a deputy with the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office. Through investigative means, Troop 3 Property Crimes Detectives developed the 17-year-old male as the suspect involved in the vehicle theft and obtained a warrant for his arrest.

On April 24, 2024, the 17-year-old male turned himself in at Troop 9. He was charged with the crime listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11, and released on a $2,000 unsecured bond.