Delaware State Police have taken two men into custody following an extensive investigation into a series of metal thefts that plagued New Castle County businesses for several months.
Authorities arrested 32-year-old Mark Hartnett from Wilmington and 38-year-old Thomas Drummond from Newport on multiple felony charges related to the theft operation that spanned from fall 2025 into early 2026.
The investigation began when law enforcement received numerous reports of metal thefts at commercial properties throughout New Castle County during the autumn months of 2025. The Criminal Investigations Unit took over the case and uncovered a pattern of criminal activity.
The crime spree began on September 30, 2025, around 2:15 a.m., when two masked individuals broke into a business on King Court in New Castle. They made off with roughly 200 pounds of aluminum wire while damaging the property.
The duo struck again on November 14, 2025, in the early morning hours at another King Court business location in New Castle, this time taking several hundred pounds of heating and air conditioning equipment before escaping.
On November 27, 2025, at about 6:00 p.m., the thieves targeted a Carson Drive business in Bear, where they broke into a box truck and stole multiple spools of copper wire.
The suspects hit a Powder Mill Road business in Wilmington on December 16, 2025, at approximately 3:40 a.m., cutting copper wire from a building and causing property damage in the process.
Three days before New Year’s, on December 29, 2025, at roughly 4:30 a.m., they returned to the King Court location in New Castle. However, this attempt proved unsuccessful as the business had already removed all valuable materials, leaving the thieves empty-handed despite cutting through fencing.
Their final heist occurred on January 25, 2026, at about 4:40 a.m., when they again targeted the Powder Mill Road business in Wilmington. They stole hundreds of feet of copper wire and inflicted more property damage. This incident took place during a weather emergency when Level 2 driving restrictions were active.
Investigators noted that both suspects consistently used face coverings to hide their identities during each criminal act. The total value of stolen materials reached approximately $21,500, while property damage to the victimized businesses was estimated at $78,800.
Through detective work, authorities identified Hartnett and Drummond as the perpetrators. Investigators also discovered that Hartnett had been selling the stolen materials at various scrap metal yards throughout the area. Arrest warrants were subsequently issued for both men.
Police apprehended Hartnett in Wilmington on February 20, 2026, without any resistance. Following his arrest, he was processed at Troop 6 and faced multiple charges before Justice of the Peace Court 11. He was held at Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $52,404 secured bond but was later released after posting bail.
Hartnett faces numerous charges including three counts of wearing a disguise during a felony, possession of burglar tools, third-degree burglary, two counts of theft over $1,500, three counts of criminal mischief causing $5,000 or more in damage, four counts of second-degree conspiracy, third-degree conspiracy, three counts of theft under $1,500, attempted theft under $1,500, four counts of selling stolen property under $1,500, criminal mischief causing between $1,000-$5,000 in damage, criminal mischief under $1,000, two counts of second-degree criminal trespass, failure to obey emergency orders, and four counts of third-degree criminal trespass.
Three days later, on February 23, 2026, officers located and arrested Drummond in New Castle without incident. He was processed on similar charges, appeared before Justice of the Peace Court 11, and was released after posting a $9,400 secured bond.
Drummond’s charges mirror many of Hartnett’s, including three counts of wearing a disguise during a felony, possession of burglar tools, third-degree burglary, two counts of theft over $1,500, three counts of criminal mischief causing $5,000 or more in damage, four counts of second-degree conspiracy, third-degree conspiracy, three counts of theft under $1,500, attempted theft under $1,500, criminal mischief in both damage categories, two counts of second-degree criminal trespass, failure to obey emergency orders, and four counts of third-degree criminal trespass.
