Pair arrested for stealing from multiple outlet stores

Delaware State Police have arrested two people for their roles in organized retail crime and related offenses that occurred Nov. 16, at multiple Tanger Outlets stores near Rehoboth Beach.

At about 4:14 p.m., a trooper responded to the North Face store in the Bayside Outlets for a report of shoplifting. Upon arriving, the trooper was notified of a separate shoplifting incident in the store in which a Black female suspect, later identified as Shakiel Carter, 30, of Dover, was actively concealing merchandise inside her clothing. The trooper further learned the female suspect’s coconspirator, an unknown Black male suspect, later identified as Tramel Wright, 24, of Hartly, had walked out of the store as the trooper arrived.

The trooper made contact with Carter, who provided a fake name and date of birth to the trooper before fleeing from the store. She entered a Honda minivan, occupied by Wright and a child, and fled from the parking lot. Troopers quickly located the minivan in an adjacent parking lot, and discovered the two suspects had fled from the van on foot, leaving the 4-year-old child in the van. With the assistance of multiple witnesses, troopers located Wright in a nearby business and took him into custody without incident. A search of Wright’s person led to the discovery of seven blue wax fold bags containing about 0.21 grams of suspected heroin.

Through investigative means, and with the assistance of the Delaware Department of Correction Probation and Parole, the female suspect was identified as Carter. Carter was subsequently located and taken into custody at the Acme Markets in Midway. During the investigation, a search of the minivan led to the discovery of stolen merchandise from Victoria’s Secret and Under Armour. The stolen merchandise had a total value of greater than $1,700.

Carter and Wright were both taken to Troop 7, where they were charged with multiple crimes.

Carter was charged with two counts of theft - organized retail crime, attempt to commit theft - organized retail crime over $1,500, three counts of second-degree conspiracy, providing false statement to law enforcement, criminal impersonation, endangering the welfare of a child, resisting arrest and third-degree criminal trespass. She was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on a $23,050 secured bond.

Wright was charged with attempt to commit theft - organized retail crime over $1,500, possession of controlled substance tier 1 quantity and second-degree conspiracy. Wright was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $6,000 secured bond.