DOVER, DELAWARE (4/9/2015) A 49-year-old Maryland man faces charges in connection with 18 burglaries in Dover, city police announced today.
Thomas K. Jenkins, of Capital Heights, was arrested in Maryland by the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Department in connection with similar burglaries there, Dover police said.
The suspect had been called the “rat burglar” by Dover police for his method of cutting holes to enter and tunnel through buildings. At the Treadway Towers building on Loockerman Street in November, the burglar made holes in drywall to access several businesses.
The Dover and Prince George’s agencies had joined in the investigation after developing a timeline of the Delaware crimes, which happened between Sept. 14 and Feb. 5, and those in Maryland.
Jenkins was located after police tracked a vehicle observed near one of the Maryland burglaries and discovered Jenkins cutting a hole in the roof of a business and entering through it, Dover Cpl. Mark Hoffman said.
When Jenkins was taken into custody, he possessed a .45 caliber handgun that had been stolen from a business in the jurisdiction of the Delaware State Police barracks in Odessa, and another .45 caliber handgun stolen from the same business was found in his vehicle, Hoffman said.
Jenkins is being held by Maryland authorities and will be charged with 72 counts in Delaware including wearing a disguise during commission of a felony, burglary, possession of burglary tools, theft under $1,500 and criminal mischief relating to burglaries at these Dover locations:
Maple Dale Country Club
Manlove Auto Parts
Sovereign Properties
Morgan Properties
U and I Builders
AMCO Check Cashing
Colonial Investment
1st Capital Mortgage
Advantage Travel
Ancient Way Massage
Tranquil Spirit Massage/Spa
Christopher Asay Massage
Morgan Communities
Vincenzo’s Reastaurant
Happy Fortune Chinese Restaurant
Happy 13 Liquors
Del-One Credit Union
Pizza Time