LEWES, DELAWARE (8/4/2015) A 41-year-old man has been arrested for stealing tools from vehicles in the Lewes, Rehoboth Beach and Long Neck areas, Delaware State Police said today.
Most of the victims were parked at Home Depot, Lowe’s Home Improvement Store and K-mart or at shopping centers the Coastal Highway area (Route 1). Some of the vehicles were open trucks and one was parked at a Wawa. The thefts happened from June 24 to July 31.
Richard A. Rausch Jr., of the 31,000 block of Dune Circle west of Lewes, was charged with third-degree burglary, 17 counts of theft, criminal mischief and nine counts of criminal trespass.
He also was wanted for failing to appear in Kent County court on traffic charges and Sussex County court on drug charges, police said
Rausch was being held at Sussex Correctional Institution near Georgetown in lieu of $25,109 bail.
Police said Rausch was arrested Friday after someone who had had tools stolen from their home tipped police, and others reported someone in a white Hyundai Accent trying to sell tools at construction sites. Police said Rausche was arrested after a theft at the Lowe’s parking lot near Lewes.
Police said they recovered some tools but have been unable to identify the owners, including a Sawzall and refrigeration tool kit. Anyone with information should contact Troop 7 at 644-5020 or Corporal B. Haupt at 703-3286.
Other tools stolen included DeWalt tools, Stihl chops saws and chain saws, Hilti power drill, Hilti laser measurement tool, Makita circular saw and Makita cordless screw gun.
Harrington man charged in theft of brass fittings
Police: 9 from Delaware linked to national rental theft scam
5 tips to avoid retail theft scam