Two men named Christopher reportedly arrested for church burglaries

The Delaware State Police say troopers have arrested two men in connection with a series of burglaries to churches in the Georgetown and Lincoln areas.

The investigation reportedly started around April 17, when the Milford Police Department was looking into a burglary at the First Baptist Church in their area.

Through investigation measures, police apparently were able to arrest Christopher Willey, 24, of Georgetown on July 5, in connection with that burglary.

According to the report, information about the burglary was shared with Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit due to an influx of break-ins happening within the Lincoln and Georgetown areas involving churches and businesses.

Officials say these incidents had been happening between mid-April to mid-May when Willey, and his accomplice, who was later identified as Christopher Carter, 24, of Harrington, would enter buildings by either breaking a window, removing air conditioning units from windows, or cutting a hole through a roof.

Once inside the two reportedly would remove cash, power tools, or other construction equipment before running away.

In a few of the cases, officials say nothing was removed, but the two men would destroy items throughout different rooms, resulting in thousands of dollars worth of damage.
 
The follow is a list of the locations that were reportedly burglarized:April 22 – Donovan’s Salvage, 20262 Donovan’s Road, Georgetown

• April 27 – Redden Community Center, 18192 Redden Road, Georgetown
• April 29 – Old Path Church of Christ, 18295 Redden Road, Georgetown
• May 13 – Daisey’s Used Car garage, McColley’s Chapel Road, Georgetown
• May 15 – Lincoln United Methodist Church, 8641 2nd Street, Lincoln May 16 – Lincoln United Methodist Church, 8641 2nd Street, Lincoln
• May 16- Old Path Church of Christ, 18295 Redden Road, Georgetown
• May 16 – Flames of Fire Holy Ghost Church, 18246 McColley’s Chapel Road, Georgetown      
• May 16- Old Path Church of Christ, 18295 Redden Road, Georgetown
• May 16 – Flames of Fire Holy Ghost Church, 18246 McColley’s Chapel Road, Georgetown

According to the report, Christopher Willey, who was already incarcerated at Sussex Correctional Institution for a violation of probation, and Christopher Carter, who was picked up on July 11 for a violation of probation, were charged by detectives with seven counts of burglary third, attempted burglary third, eight counts of conspiracy second, five counts of possession of burglary tools, seven counts of theft, selling stolen property, and six counts of criminal mischief.

Officials say both men were incarcerated at SCI in lieu of $35,000 secured bond.
 
For more information on the Milford investigation, contact Milford PD.