Sussex County, DE – The Delaware State Police have investigated several thefts of tools from unsecured vehicles at several locations in the Long Neck, Lewes and Rehoboth area.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a suspect entered several vehicles stealing tools and rummaging through unsecured parked vehicles. The suspect stole various power tools ranging from DeWalt tools, Stihl Chop saws to chainsaws. In most of these cases the vehicles were parked in the parking lots of the Home Depot, the Lowe’s Home Improvement Store and K-mart.
On June 24, 2015, Troopers investigated a theft at the Lowe's parking lot where a Hilti Power drill and a Hilti Laser Measurement Tool were taken.
On July 8, 2015, Troopers responded to the Torrey Pines Place in the Villages of Red Mill Pond North and took a report of a suspicious vehicle where the operator of a vehicle, a white Hyundai Accent, was selling used power tools to the construction workers who were building houses in that development.
On July 15, 2015, Troopers received a report of a white male attempting to sell a chop saw at a construction site near Lewes Crossing at Beaver Dam Road. The suspect vehicle was described as a white Hyundai Accent with a Delaware registration. The operator was described as a white male in his 40's with earrings in both ears. The suspect had approached an employee to sell the power tool and when the employee advised that he would have to get his boss to get permission to purchase the tool the male subject fled the scene.
On July 24, 2015, Troopers received another tip from a contractor who described a white male in a Hyundai Accent attempting to sell tools to his employees while at a construction site several days prior near the Coastal Club in Lewes, DE.
On July 24, 2015 Troopers investigated a complaint with several tools stolen from a victim’s residence which had started over the past few months. The home owner advised that he believed that Richard A. Rausch Jr. was the primary suspect for these thefts from his residence.
On July 30, 2015 Troopers investigated a theft which occurred in the parking lot of Wawa in Longneck, DE. The victim completing repair work at Wawa observed a small white car pulled behind his truck matching the description the suspect’s vehicle. The victim did not think of it at the time but, later the victim found the Makita circular saw and his Makita cordless screw gun missing from the rear bed of his truck. Both tools were in cases are valued at approximately $550.00.
On July 31, 2015 at approximately 10:00 a.m. a white Hyundai Accent was seen entering the Lowe’s parking lot in Lewes. The Accent was being driven by a white male matching the description of Richard A. Rausch Jr. Rausch was observed pull next to a white Ford F350 which had equipment in the rear bed of the truck. The male driver identified as Richard A. Rausch Jr. exited his vehicle and opened the rear driver side door of the Ford F350 and stole a Stihl chop-saw valued at $800.00 from the bed of the truck next to his vehicle and threw it in the rear seat of his vehicle. Rausch then exited the parking lot of Lowes (Lewes, DE) onto Plantations Road in a southbound direction. Troopers were immediately notified and conducted a traffic stop on the white Hyundai Accent when it made a left turn onto Shady Road from Plantations Road. The male driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, was Richard A. Rausch Jr., who was immediately taken into custody. The following stolen items were recovered from his vehicle: Stihl chop-saw and Milwaukee sawzall, along with a Ritchie yellow jacket refrigeration service tool set.
This investigation revealed Richard A. Rausch Jr. stole from vehicles particularly in the parking lot of businesses. The thefts took place in the parking lots of Lowes, Home Depot in Lewes and the K-Mart parking lot in Rehoboth Beach as well as, shopping centers along the Coastal Highway corridor in Rehoboth and the Longneck area.
Richard A. Rausch Jr., 41 of the 31,000 block of Dune Circle Lewes, De., was arrested and charged with Burglary 3rd degree, 17 counts of Theft, Criminal Mischief, and nine counts of Criminal Trespass. He was also wanted failing to appear for Kent County Court of Common Pleas on traffic charges and Sussex County Court of Common Pleas on drug charges. Rausch was arraigned at Jp2 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $25, 109.00. (mug shot attached)
There are other tools recovered (a sawzall and refrigeration service tool kit) and the victim(s) is or are unknown. Please contact Troop 7 at 644-5020 or Corporal B. Haupt at 703-3286 with any information to assist us with locating the victim(s).
The Delaware State Police urge people to utilize the following tips:
- Lock your vehicle doors and roll up you windows.
- Do not leave valuables inside or outside of your vehicle unsecured.
- Report any suspicious activity to 9-1-1 immediately
If anyone has any information on these incidents or feels they may have been a victim they are asked to contact Corporal B. Haupt at 703-3286 or Delaware State Police Troop 7 at 302-644-5020. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."
Nice ear rings Nancy.
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