Delaware State Police have again arrested Christian O’Leary, 30, of Lewes, on burglary and related charges after copper wire theft at a construction site in the Dover area and burglary of boating equipment in Sussex County.
On April 20, troopers were dispatched to the EDiS construction site on west Big Woods Road. Troopers determined that two suspects broke a lock at the front gate of the site and loaded a pickup truck with about $20,000 in copper wiring.
The suspects damaged equipment before departing from the area. Troopers identified Christian O’Leary and 34-year-old Jacob Steele of Dover as suspects. O’Leary was released on bond and Steele could not be located.
Delaware State Police later charged O’Leary and Steele following an investigation into thefts n Sussex County.
Throughout March and April, State Police have fielded numerous reports of thefts of watercraft equipment and accessories from boatyards in Lewes, Millsboro, and Milford. Detectives from the Troop 4 Property Crimes Unit were able to develop O’Leary and Steele as two suspects associated with the thefts.
On April 29, at approximately 10:33 p.m., O’Leary and Steele were found in a vehicle on southbound Coastal Highway at Miller Road in Rehoboth Beach. Troopers initiated a traffic stop and O’Leary and Steele were taken into custody without incident.
O’Leary and Steele were both arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 3. O’Leary was taken to Sussex Correctional Institution on $4,875 secured bond, and Steele was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $9,500 secured bond.
