Rare painting recovered after Greenville jewelry suspect arrested

Richard Lewis (Photo: New Castle County police)
Richard Lewis (Photo: New Castle County police)

GREENVILLE, DELAWARE (10/20/2015) A Wilmington man has been charged in connection with the theft of $100,000 in jewelry and designer handbags taken in burglaries in the Greenville area, and a rare painting stolen in Wilmington was recovered, New Castle County police said today.

Police said they are looking for additional victims.

Richard Lewis, 56, of the 700 block of W. Ninth St., was arrested Friday as search warrants were executed at his home and a rented storage unit.

Detectives developed Lewis as a suspect from surveillance images of a white Lexus sedan in the area of two burglaries in June, Cpl. Tracey Duffy said, as well as other evidence.

In a June 7 burglary in the 100 block of Carpenters Row, about $2,000 worth of jewelry was taken. Jewelry also was taken in a June 16 burglary in the 200 block of Buck Road.

Duffy said police found property at Lewis’ home and the storage unit that linked him to the burglaries.

“Additional jewelry as well as a rare painting all believed to be stolen was found inside the storage unit,” Duffy said.

The painting had been reported stolen to Wilmington police last December and was returned, but Duffy did not provide any additional details.

Lewis was charged with two counts of second-degree burglary, theft over $100,000, theft over $1,500, second-degree conspiracy, two counts of criminal mischief and receiving stolen property over $1,500. He was being held at Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington in lieu of $64,000 cash bail.

Duffy said the $100,000 theft charge related to the jewelry and designer handbags.

Police are inviting residents of northern Delaware, particularly the Greenville area, that have been the victim of a burglary to a property showing from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 27 in the first-floor conference room at the Sweeney Public Safety Building, 3601 N. DuPont Highway in Minquadale. Anyone planning to attend is asked to contact Detective David DiNardo at DPDiNardo@nccde.org or 302-395-8192.

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