Delaware State Police have arrested a 65-year-old Wilmington man following a lengthy investigation into an organized retail theft scheme that spanned multiple businesses across New Castle County.
Eric Tillman was taken into custody after investigators spent months building a case against him. According to police, the Delaware State Police Criminal Investigations Unit received a tip in March 2026 that Tillman was targeting people struggling with drug addiction, convincing them to steal goods from retail stores in exchange for only a small portion of what those items were actually worth.
Detectives identified several major retailers as targets in the scheme, including Giant, Walgreens, CVS, Target, and Kenny Family ShopRite locations throughout New Castle County.
Investigators worked alongside the New Jersey State Police Troop “A” Criminal Investigation Office and loss prevention staff from the affected stores. Through that collaboration, they discovered Tillman was hauling the stolen goods to a storage unit in New Jersey, where he would then sell the merchandise at flea markets across the state.
On June 8, 2026, detectives tracked Tillman down in Wilmington and arrested him without any confrontation. Investigators then executed search warrants at his Wilmington home, the New Jersey storage unit, and two vehicles. The searches turned up approximately 4,317 items believed to be stolen, with a combined estimated retail value of $70,292.36.
Tillman was transported to Troop 2, where he was formally charged with three felonies: Theft – Organized Retail Crime, Receiving Stolen Property, and Conspiracy in the Second Degree. He was arraigned through the Justice of the Peace Court and later released on an $8,000 unsecured bond.
