(Wilmington, DE 19804) Yesterday (Apr 30), patrol officers from the New Castle County Division of Police were dispatched to Atlantic Ave in the community of Richardson Park for the report of a nighttime, occupied burglary.
When the officers arrived on the scene, they learned from the victim that she was sleeping in her bedroom when she heard her bedroom door open and saw an older, bald, black male inside her house. She explained that she yelled at the male to leave, in the process of leaving, he reached his hand towards her. She then tried to swat his hand away which made him stop and leave.
She then reported that after he left, she saw the black male on her porch, pick up a small white dog, and leave her residence. She then saw that her Delaware Driver’s License was missing from her purse.
Patrol officers conducted a neighborhood canvas and determined that 46-year-old, Roger Dennis was a suspect. Officers then noted that Dennis fit the description of the suspect seen on video surveillance for a stolen motor vehicle from 1 Matthes Ave in the community of Elmhurst. In that video, Dennis is seen walking his small dog again and stealing a car that was warming up.
Detectives from the New Castle County Division of Police Criminal Investigations Unit, Major Crimes Squad arrived at the scene and assumed the investigation.
Dennis was subsequently taken into custody and taken to headquarters. When he was taken into custody, he was found to be in possession of four Driver’s License Cards that belonged to four separate women.
From this and additional evidence detectives were able to charge Dennis with the Atlantic Ave Burglary, the stolen vehicle from Matthes Ave, two thefts from Friendly’s Restaurant at the Brandywine Town Center, a theft from a doctors office in Newark, a theft from the 400 block of Wooddale Avenue, and a stolen motor vehicle from the Abby Medical Center.
Roger Dennis was charged with one count of felony Burglary 1st, one count of felony Theft (Victim is 62 or Older), two counts of felony Theft of a Motor Vehicle, four counts of misdemeanor Theft and one count of misdemeanor Criminal Mischief.
Dennis was arraigned at the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released on $17,100 unsecured bail.
This an ongoing investigation, and based on information learned by detectives a concern surfaced that there may be more victims. Detectives are asking anyone with any information pertaining to this investigation to contact Det. Mackie at (302) 395-8133 or via email at Kevin.Mackie@newcastlede.gov or by calling the New Castle County Division of Police non-emergency number at 302-573-2800 or via messenger on Facebook.
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