Delaware State Police have taken into custody a 24-year-old Wilmington car wash worker accused of stealing a customer’s engagement ring and later trying to sell it at a pawn shop.
Jose Gonzales-Morales was arrested following an investigation that began February 15, 2026, when authorities were called to Magic Car Wash on Naamans Road in Wilmington. A customer reported their engagement ring had vanished from their vehicle after getting it washed, having accidentally left the jewelry inside the car.
During the initial investigation, police interviewed multiple employees at the car wash, including Gonzales-Morales, but were unable to locate the missing ring at that time.
The breakthrough came when the victim took matters into their own hands, distributing flyers with photos of the stolen ring to local pawn shops in case someone tried to sell it. This proactive approach paid off eight days later on February 23, 2026, when Gonzales-Morales allegedly walked into a Wilmington-area pawn shop attempting to sell the very ring pictured on the flyer.
The pawn shop owner, who had received one of the victim’s flyers, immediately recognized the jewelry and recovered it, returning the engagement ring to its rightful owner.
Gonzales-Morales was taken into custody without incident on February 28, 2026, and transported to Troop 1. He faces two felony charges: Theft $1500 or Greater and Providing False Statement to Law Enforcement. Following his arraignment at Justice of the Peace Court 11, he was released on an unsecured bond of $2,500.
