Day: July 29, 2015

The Dover Police Department is making Dover retailers aware of an increasing trend in fraudulent returns/shoplifting incidents.  In recent months, the department has seen an increase in cases where suspects are removing merchandise from shelves or leaving the store with merchandise, only to return it without a receipt.  Most times, stores will only provide store credit on a gift card for the merchandise.  The suspects are then selling the gift cards on the secondary market, often to local pawn shops, which purchase the cards for just a percentage of the value; giving cash to the suspect.  As of July 24^th, the Dover Police Department responded to 531 calls for shoplifting in the City of Dover.  This is an overall decrease of 31 complaints from the same time period in 2014.  While the total shoplifting complaints are decreasing, there has been an increase in the incidents involving fraudulent returns.  The Dover Police Department recommends the following steps be taken to prevent these incidents from occurring:

• Educate employees about this issue
• Request ID when making a return
• Limit number of no-receipt returns within a calendar year
• Evaluate and change return policies as needed to prevent these incidents from occuring
• Utilize special markings or removable labels on merchandise to indicate when something was purchased or was removed directly from the shelf

Complaint # 50-15-21530

Date/Time: Tuesday, July 28th, 2015 at 10:56PM

Location:  7-11, 1019 Walker Road/Whatcoat Drive, Dover, Delaware

Officer Releasing Information:   M/Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer

Original Narrative:

The Dover Police Department has arrested Jeff Tolson (21), of Dover, on five counts of first degree robbery/attempted robbery after two incidents on Tuesday night.  At approximately 10:56PM, officer responded to the 7-11 at 1019 Walker Road (Hamlet Shopping Center) for an armed robbery.  It was learned that two black males, entered the 7-11 store and displayed a shotgun, demanding money from the employees.  It is believed that Tolson was also present, but remained outdoors to act as a lookout for the robbery.  Both employees complied and the suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.  The suspects were described as wearing all black clothing.

As officers responded to the area and searched for the suspects, a Dover Police Officer observed a group of people at the rear of Whatcoat Drive, with two men wearing all black clothing.  As the officer approached, the two black males wearing all black clothing fled.  An additional male (Tolson) who was wearing an orange shirt was taken into custody as well.  The officers spoke with three subjects who had their hands up as officers approached.  They advised the officers that Tolson and the other two subjects had just attempted to rob them at gunpoint as police arrived.  Tolson was arrested and charged with the following crimes:
-First Degree Robbery (x2)
-Attempted First Degree Robbery (x3)
-Conspiracy 2nd Degree
-Possession of Firearm During Commission of Felony

Bond information was not available at time of release, as Tolson was still awaiting arraignment.

The Dover Police Department will once again bring the National Night Out to the Target parking lot on Tuesday, August 4th from 6-8pm.  The event brings the Dover Police Department, along with several emergency agencies and military personnel to one place where the public can bring their families to meet and greet local heroes and see the equipment used in their jobs while forming a positive relationship with the community.  In addition to appearances and demonstrations by these agencies, Night Out will feature fun activities for all ages along with food and beverages for all while supplies last.  The Dover Police Department and Target Department Store look forward to continuing the National Night Out tradition and their relationship to improve the Dover community through events such as this and the Heroes and Helpers Christmas program.  The National Night Out  gives us the opportunity to show our citizens what we do, the vehicles and equipment we use, and really gives people that attend a sense of pride in their emergency responders.  It is an opportunity for communities nationwide to promote police-community partnerships, crime prevention, and neighborhood camaraderie. While the one night is certainly not an answer to crime, drugs and violence, National Night Out represents the kind of spirit, energy and determination to help make neighborhoods a safer place year round.  The event gives us the ability to connect with people on a personal level, in a positive environment outside of the typical situations people tend to interact with us.  Kids can try on gear that officers wear, sit on a police motorcycle, put out a  simulated fire with the Dover Fire Department, and much more.  A new addition to this years event comes from WSFS Bank.  WSFS and the Dover Police Department will join together to bring a “shred event” to the National Night Out.  The public is invited to bring personal documents to be shredded beginning at 4pm and ending at 8pm that day.  Dover Police will be on hand to distribute ID theft information and prevention information.   There will also be K9 demonstrations at 6:30PM and 7:30PM.  We are excited to put on this event once again and look forward to many families visiting us on August 4th.

Activities/Appearances:

• FREE Bounce House/Slide and Basketball game Courtesy of BK Rentals
• FREE Rock Climbing Wall Courtesy of Vertical High
• FREE Shred Event by WSFS Bank, beginning at 4pm!
• Eagle 97.7 LIVE Broadcast
• McGruff the Crime Dog
• Free Light Refreshments*
• Dunk the “Shake It Off” Cop, Officer Jeff Davis
• Delaware State Police Helicopter (Weather/Schedule Permitting)
• Dover Police Department Vehicles (Dodge Charger/Chevy Tahoe)
• Dover Police Department Motorcycle Unit
• Dover Police Department Crisis Negotiation Truck
• Dover Police Department Bearcat (Armored Truck)
• FREE Child ID Kits
• Dover Police Department K9 Demonstrations
• Dover Air Force Base Security Forces Vehicles and Display
• Dover Air Force Base Fire Department Vehicles and Display
• City of Dover Fire Department Vehicles and Fire Activity for Children
• Little Creek Fire Department Bay Rescue Boat
• Little Creek Fire Department HazMat Truck
• Leipsic Fire Department Ambulance
• Delaware Crime Stoppers Display
• Delaware Army National Guard Display and Games
• and more….
  *while supplies last

PHOTOS FROM 2014 NATIONAL NIGHT OUT