New Castle Woman Arrested After Robbing Casino Patron

Location: Delaware Park Casino, 777 Delaware Park Boulevard, Wilmington, DE

Date of Occurrence: Monday, April 4, 2011 at 6:55 p.m.

Victim:  76 year old Brookneal, VA woman

Defendant: Deborah J. Burton, 46, New Castle, DE

Charges:

-Robbery 1^st Degree

- Attempted Identity Theft

- Attempted Theft (2 counts)

- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Resume:  

Stanton- The Delaware State Police have arrested a New Castle woman after she robbed a patron and then attempted to use her debit card at the Delaware Park Casino last night.

The incident occurred at approximately 6:55 p.m. last night as troopers responded to the casino located at 777 Delaware Park Boulevard, Wilmington for the report of a robbery. Upon their arrival troopers were informed that a 76 year old female patron had been in one of the casino bathrooms when she was approached by a female suspect and struck over the head with a purse. The suspect removed the victim’s wallet from her purse and then fled from the bathroom.  The victim, who suffered bruising and swelling to her head, then responded back onto the casino floor where security was notified. A search of the casino for the suspect and the victim’s property was then conducted during which time the victim’s wallet was located in a trashcan. It was determined that the suspect had removed the victim’s bank debit card from the wallet prior to discarding it. It was also determined that the suspect had attempted to obtain cash using the victim’s card from two different ATM machines in the casino.

A short time later, a member of the Delaware Park security located the suspect in the parking lot of the casino talking on a cellular phone. The suspect was in the process of attempting to change the PIN on the victim’s card through the bank that issued the card. Security took the suspect, later identified as Deborah J. Burton, into custody. The bank card was returned to the victim.

Deborah Burton was arrested and charged with the above list of crimes. She was arraigned at JP Court 11 and then committed to the Women’s Correctional Institution for lack of $37,500.00 secured bail.