Two Arrested for Church Burglaries

 

Georgetown, DE – Troopers have arrested two men in connection with a series of burglaries to churches in the Georgetown and Lincoln areas.

 

The investigation began around April 17, 2016 when Milford Police Department investigated a burglary the First Baptist Church within their jurisdiction.  Through investigative measures, they were able to arrest Christopher Willey, 24 of Georgetown on July 5, 2016.

 

Information was shared about the burglary with Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit due to a rash of break-ins occurring within the Lincoln and Georgetown areas involving churches and businesses.  These incidents had been occurring between mid-April to mid-May when Willey and his accomplice, who was later identified as Christopher J. Carter, 24 of Harrington, would forcibly enter the buildings by either breaking a window, removing air conditioning units from windows, or in one case, cutting a hole through a roof.  Once inside the two would remove cash, power tools, or other construction equipment before fleeing.  In a few of the cases, nothing was removed, but the two would destroy items throughout different rooms causing thousands of dollars’ worth of damage.

 

The follow is a list of the locations that were burglarized:

• April 22, 2016 – Donovan’s Salvage, 20262 Donovan’s Road, Georgetown
• April 27, 2016 – Redden Community Center, 18192 Redden Road, Georgetown
• April 29, 2016 – Old Path Church of Christ, 18295 Redden Road, Georgetown
• May 13, 2016 – Daisey’s Used Car garage, McColley’s Chapel Road, Georgetown
• May 15, 2016 – Lincoln United Methodist Church, 8641 2^nd Street, Lincoln
• May 16, 2016 – Lincoln United Methodist Church, 8641 2^nd Street, Lincoln
• May 16, 2016 – Old Path Church of Christ, 18295 Redden Road, Georgetown
• May 16, 2016 – Flames of Fire Holy Ghost Church, 18246 McColley’s Chapel Road, Georgetown

 

Christopher Willey, who was already incarcerated at Sussex Correctional Institution (SCI) for a violation of probation, and Christopher Carter, who was picked up on July 11, 2016 for a violation of probation were charged by detectives with seven counts of Burglary 3^rd, Attempted Burglary 3^rd, eight counts of Conspiracy 2^nd, five counts of Possession of Burglary Tools, seven counts of Theft, Selling Stolen Property, and six counts of Criminal Mischief.  They were both incarcerated at SCI in lieu of $35,000.00 secured bond.