Dover Police Arrest Man in Connection with Three Burglaries
DOVER, Del. – The Dover Police Department has arrested a man in connection with three burglary-related commercial incidents committed within the last week.
Officers arrested 33-year-old Shawn Jones of Dover on charges including third degree burglary, two counts of attempted third degree burglary, theft valued under $1,500, and related charges. He has been committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $36,000 cash bond.
Police say their investigation began on Jul. 29 after officers responded to a burglary at Kent Liquor Mart on South Dupont Highway. Investigators determined at 3:50 a.m., an unknown suspect shattered the front glass door with a rock before entering the business. Surveillance footage showed the suspect immediately go behind the counter, steal multiple alcoholic beverages, place the items into a pillowcase, and flee on foot.
A few days later on Aug. 4, around 9:44 p.m., officers responded to a commercial alarm at Little Grocer on East Division Street. Officers discovered a shattered window on the east side of the building. Surveillance video revealed that minutes prior, a suspect wearing a dark hooded inside-out sweatshirt unsuccessfully attempted to force entry by striking the window with his elbow before fleeing. Officers observed what appeared to be blood on the broken window, and collected a sample as evidence.
Just over two hours later, officers responded another commercial alarm at Lepore Liquors on North Dupont Highway. Upon arrival, officers found the front glass door shattered. The investigation determined that a suspect matching the description from the Little Grocer incident used a rock to break the glass door, but fled on foot without gaining entry.
While responding to the Lepore Liquors incident, an officer observed a man walking near the area who matched the description of the suspect. During a pedestrian stop, the officer observed a fresh cut on the man’s right elbow. A subsequent canvass of the area led to the discovery of a black hooded sweatshirt, turned inside out with a tear near the right elbow, along with a white mesh bag believed to have been discarded by the suspect. Both items were collected as evidence.
As the investigation continued, detectives were able to positively identify Jones as the suspect responsible for the Jul. 29 burglary at Kent Liquor Mart. He was subsequently charged in connection with all three incidents.
