Delaware State Police have finally put the cuffs on a Wilmington man accused of a string of brazen burglaries along Philadelphia Pike. The suspect, 43-year-old Alexis Martinez, was nabbed for allegedly breaking into businesses ranging from a car wash to a church. According to Delaware State Police, his crime spree spanned nearly six months before he was caught on May 26, 2024.
On the afternoon of the arrest, at approximately 1:53 p.m., officers rushed to the Penny Hill Repair and Service Center after reports of an unknown Hispanic male breaking into a vehicle. The owner confronted the intruder, who fled on foot—only to be called to another scene shortly after, this time at Saint Helena Roman Catholic Church, where the same suspect was accused of thievery within its walls. It didn't take long for troopers to spot Martinez, whose clothes were a match for the wanted suspect in several nearby burglaries. The arrest was made without a struggle and Martinez was carted off to Troop 2, according to authorities.
Detectives connected Martinez to at least eight burglaries, including those at the White Glove Car Wash, the aforementioned Penny Hill Repair, and Saint Helena Church. He was charged with multiple counts of burglary and related offenses. Subsequent to these charges, Martinez faced a justice of Peace Court 11 and was hit with a $14,251 secured bond, finding himself behind bars at Howard R. Young Correctional Institution.
The string of thefts shook the businesses along Philadelphia Pike, with community members reeling from the audacity of the crimes. The arrest has brought a sigh of relief to local proprietors, though the reminder lingers that vigilance is a small price to pay for security in their everyday lives. Martinez, who now faces the consequences of his alleged months-long spree, has yet to give a public statement regarding the accusations against him.
