Wilmington shoplifting suspects turn themselves in to police by mistake

Two Wilmington residents accidentally turned themselves in to state police — oops.

Delaware State Police have been looking for a pair of shoplifting suspects since Feb. 22, when the Kohl's department store in Brandywine Hundred was victimized. A man tried to make a fraudulent return and was denied, but the woman he was with then grabbed merchandise and left.

Store security tried to detain them, but the shoplifters were able to get away.

State police identified Christopher McDowell, 34, and April Wright, 48, as their suspects, but they remained at large following the incident – until Tuesday.

That's when a man walked into Delaware State Police Troop 1 on Philadelphia Pike, seemingly intoxicated, and asked police for a ride home, police said.

Troopers recognized him as McDowell and arrested him, police said.

McDowell was processed and charged with shoplifting and conspiracy, arraigned and then released on a $1,000 unsecured bail.

Then McDowell made a phone call to an acquaintance asking for a ride home, police said. April Wright showed up and she, too, was arrested and charged.

She received identical charges to McDowell for the Kohl's incident and an additional shoplifting charge for an unrelated crime, police said. She was arraigned and released on a $1,500 unsecured bail, police said.

Contact at aduvernay@delawareonline.com or (302) 319-1855 or @duvINdelaware.

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