(New Castle, DE 19720) Starting in the month of January, patrol officers from the New Castle County Division of Police and detectives from the Criminal Investigations Unit Property squad have been investigating multiple residential burglaries. The investigators discovered that these burglaries were linked by the victims’ ethnicities.
Multiple communities were affected. In January, residences in Colony at Summit Bridge East, Meritage, and Brennan Estates were burglarized. In the first week of February, Meritage was hit again as was the community of Chanterelle.
The victims were targeted because of their Asiatic heritage. Two were of Chinese descent, one was Pakistani, one Vietnamese, and one family from India.
Last Friday, February 4th, 2022, investigators were able to identify a vehicle that was observed at the scenes. This led the investigation to 43-year-old Jorge Ibarguen and 29-year-old Jaime Renteria-Renteria. Ibaruguen was taken into custody as he was entering the vehicle and search warrants were authored for his residence in Hunter’s Crossing Apartments. Renteria was apprehended in this apartment. The detectives also recovered stolen property and jewelry from additional burglaries.
Both suspects were transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters and charged.
Ibarguen was charged with six felony counts of Burglary 2nd degree, four counts of felony Theft, five counts of felony Possession of Burglar Tools, one count of felony Theft of a Firearm, five counts of felony Conspiracy 2nd, two counts of misdemeanor Theft, and five counts of misdemeanor Criminal Mischief. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $103,400 cash bail
Renteria-Renteria was charged with four counts of felony Burglary 2, four counts of felony Possession of Burglar Tools, one count of felony Theft of a Firearm, three counts of felony Theft, four counts of felony Conspiracy 2nd, four counts of misdemeanor Criminal Mischief and one count of misdemeanor Theft. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $73,300 cash bail.
This is still an active investigation, as crimes similar to these have been reported to multiple police agencies. If you have any information regarding this investigation, please contact Det Arnold at (302)395-8110 or Matthew. Arnold @newcastlede.gov or call the New Castle County Police non-emergency number at 302-573-2800.
Citizens can text a tip anonymously simply by texting the number 847411 keyword: NCCDE. You can also submit a tip via our website athttp://www.nccpd.com. Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 or visit us on Facebook (IM) at New Castle County Division of Police.
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