The Delaware State Police have arrested 57-year-old James Deshields of Seaford, Delaware, for burglary and related charges in Sussex County after a series of burglaries at homes under construction.
The Delaware State Police responded to several burglaries in September 2025 in which the suspect entered residences and removed or attempted to remove refrigerators. Many of these incidents also resulted in damage to the homes because the suspect cut the water line to the refrigerator.
The Sussex County Criminal Investigations Unit assumed the investigations. Detectives determined that a suspect and a Honda CRV had been observed at several of the crime scenes, and through further investigation, identified Deshields as a suspect. Investigators also learned that the Georgetown Police Department and the Seaford Police Department were investigating similar incidents.
On September 23, 2025, Deshields was arrested for an unrelated matter. While he was in custody, detectives obtained a DNA search warrant to compare his DNA against evidence that had been collected from one of the burglary scenes. While detectives were attempting to obtain a DNA sample from Deshields, he resisted, but the sample was ultimately obtained and sent to the Division of Forensic Science for testing.
Earlier this month, the Division of Forensic Science provided its report, which detectives used to link Deshields to the crimes, and a warrant for his arrest was obtained.
On February 17, 2026, Deshields was arrested without incident and taken to Troop 4, where he was charged with the offenses listed below. He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on a $27,500 unsecured bond.
- Burglary Second Degree (Felony) – 3 counts
- Theft $1500 or Greater (Felony) – 3 counts
- Attempted Theft $1500 or Greater (Felony)
- Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony)
- Resisting Arrest
- Criminal Mischief Under $1000 – 3 counts
- Criminal Trespass Second Degree