Delaware State Police, on August 4 and 5, arrested three people allegedly responsible for scrap metal thefts in Millsboro, Frankford and Delmar. Those thefts took place on June 25, beginning around 9:15 a.m.
While investigating a theft complaint at the 28,0000 block of Blueberry Lane in Frankford, DSP learned that a black Jeep was parked along the side of a barn and the occupants were observed placing a tractor hitch in the rear of the vehicle.
A witness to the crime confronted the suspects and ordered them to put the property back. The suspects, Kevin M. Cooper, 26, William C. Cooper, 22, and Crystal G. Cooper, 25, and all of Bridgeville, complied. The witness then copied down the registration number of the Jeep, which was found to be owned by Crystal C. Cooper.
As the trooper was completing the investigation in Frankford, he was notified of another theft in progress near Delmar that also involved a black Jeep. In this theft the suspects allegedly stole five aluminum wheels outside a bard and fled the scene.
Not finished for the day, the Cooper’s allegedly continued onto Truitt Road in Millsboro and once again the trooper was contacting the second victim when he was notified of the third theft. The trooper was advised that a Jeep fitting the descriptions previously given in the other thefts had pulled into a private drive.
Then one of the Cooper males allegedly walked to the front door of a residence, knocked and upon not receiving an answer pulled the jeep next to the residence. The suspects then proceeded to steal a tractor battery, cables and a welding helmet before fleeing the scene.
DSP, after conducting follow-up investigations into the scrap metal thefts, received information positively linking the three suspects to the crimes.
On August 4, police arrested Kevin M. Cooper and a day later apprehended William C. Cooper and Crystal G. Cooper.
All three were charged with burglary third degree, two counts of theft under $1,500, conspiracy second degree, two counts of conspiracy third degree, attempted theft under $1,500 and two counts of criminal trespass third degree.
Kevin Cooper was released on $8,000 unsecured bond, William C. Cooper was remanded to SCI in lieu of $11,200 secured bond and Crystal Cooper was remanded to Women’s Correctional Institute in lieu of $11,200 secured bond.
