Delaware State Police, working with the Bethany Beach Police Department, arrested a Frankford Uber driver who is accused of driving passengers to their destinations and returning to burglarize their homes.
The initial investigation began in August 2016 as the Delaware State Police Burglary Unit Detectives were able to link the suspect, Saddam A. Awadallah, 26 of Frankford, to a number of burglaries in the Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island areas.
The Uber driver, identified as Saddam Awadallah, was developed as the suspect in the burglaries. The investigation revealed Awadallah drove a white 2004 Toyota Sienna van and would transport individuals from their residences to local area businesses and restaurants located in the Ocean City and the Dewey Beach areas.
While his Uber passengers were away from their residences, he would return back to the their vacant homes to steal various items. The incidents all occurred in a narrow timeframe during the night while the victims were away, trooper reported. The suspect snatched credit cards, computers, watches, cell phones, tablets, sunglasses, and other various items.
Awadallah was apprehended in Tennessee and extradited back to Delaware on February 13 and was formally charged with three counts of Burglary 2nd Degree, Possession of Burglar Tools, Theft with a victim 62 or older, 11 counts of Theft, and Criminal Mischief. Saddam A. Awadallah was arraigned before the Sussex County Court of Common Pleas and subsequently committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution in lieu of a $31,000 secured bond.
The incidents remain under investigation by the Delaware State Police. Detectives are asking anyone who may have been a victim or may have any information in reference to these incidents to contact Detective T. Powell at 302-752-3807. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”
