Thief apologized to victim on Facebook, police say

An apology to his victim on Facebook led to a thief’s arrest in Harrington, city police said Monday.

Mark A. Parker, 24, of the 2000 block of Milford-Harrington Highway, was charged with theft under $1,500, four counts of unlawful use of a credit card, four counts of theft by false pretense under $1,500, second-degree forgery and conspiracy, and five counts of criminal impersonation, Lt. Earl K. Brode said.

He was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution near Georgetown, lacking $18,000 secured bail.

His thefts came to light in November, when he apologized to the victim – a relative of his – by posting an apology via Facebook, Brode said.

The victim subsequently alerted police that Parker had admitted using her debit card without permission and stealing checks from her checkbook, he said.

Investigators determined that cashed an undisclosed number of checks by forging her name, also using her debit card to pay for purchases at several locations, Brode said.

Police obtained a warrant for Parker, who was taken into custody by state police on Dec. 29 in New Castle County, then turned over to the Harrington Police Department, he said.

Contact robin brown at (302) 324-2856 or rbrown@delawareonline.com. Find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @rbrowndelaware.