Facebook tip leads to man's arrest for vehicle thefts

A Delaware man may be thinking he had one too many Facebook friends, since a Facebook tip led to his arrest.

Saturday, Delaware State Police detectives started investigating a string of car break-ins south of Dover, in developments off S. State Street and S. Old Mill Road.

They say in most of the incidents, people had left their vehicles unlocked, and cash and personal belongings were stolen.

Detectives got surveillance video from a home, and sent pictures and information out on social media platforms Facebook and Nextdoor.

They say it just took hours for a Facebook user to leave an anonymous tip, identifying the person in the picture as Antonio Powell of Magnolia.

Police found Powell as a passenger in a car, so they stopped it and say he "provided false information to the detective who had already arrested him in the beginning of May for thefts from vehicles in the Rising Sun area."

Powell was arrested and charged with nine counts of theft under $1500, four counts of attempted theft under $1500, 12 counts of criminal trespass, and also criminal impersonation. He's being held at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in lieu of $9,100 bond.

Troopers are still investigating and say there could be more charges.

Delaware State Police are urging people to lock their car doors and roll up windows, don't leave valuables inside, and leave outdoor lights on.