Two 12‑year‑olds were arrested in Wilmington, Delaware after police caught them attempting to steal cars. The arrests occurred on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, just before 11 a.m. Police responded to a report of an attempted vehicle theft at West 6th and North Union Street. The incident drew attention to the city’s ongoing concerns about youth vehicle theft.
Incident Overview
The incident unfolded in the 200 block of Rodman Street, where the teens allegedly tried to steal a vehicle. Witnesses reported seeing the teenagers near the vehicle before they fled. The attempted theft prompted a quick police response. The area is known for occasional vehicle theft incidents. The teens were still in the vicinity when officers arrived.
Police Response
West 6th and North Union Street served as the initial point of police arrival. The officers spoke with an individual who claimed the teens had attempted the theft. The individual followed the teens and detained one of the boys. Police confirmed that the boy was taken into custody without incident. The second teen was located later at West 5th and North Union Street.
Police officers responded to the scene promptly after receiving the report. They arrived just before 11 a.m. on November 26, 2025. The officers were able to detain the first teen immediately. The second teen was found in a nearby area and taken into custody. The arrests were made without any reported resistance.
The individual who reported the incident followed the teens and detained one of them. Police credited the individual for providing critical information. The individual was not arrested. The teens were still in the area when officers arrived. The police thanked the individual for their assistance.
The first teen was detained by the individual and later by police. Police took the boy into custody without incident. The boy was transported to the police station for processing. He was later charged with possession of burglary tools and second‑degree conspiracy. The charges were filed promptly after the arrest.
Arrests and Charges
The police took the first teen into custody without incident. He was processed at the police station. The charges included possession of burglary tools and second‑degree conspiracy. The boy was arraigned and released on a $3,000 unsecured bail. The release was granted under standard juvenile procedures.
The second teen was located at West 5th and North Union Street. Police took him into custody without incident. The teen was charged with two counts of attempted theft of a motor vehicle. He was also charged with two counts of criminal mischief over $1,000 but less than $5,000. He was arraigned and released on a $3,000 unsecured bail.
An earlier investigation revealed that the teens had also been in the 300 block of North Bancroft Parkway. There they attempted to steal another vehicle. Police confirmed the second attempted theft. The teens were still active in the area during the investigation. The earlier attempt was part of the same incident chain.
The investigation uncovered the teens’ presence in two separate vehicle theft attempts. The first attempt was at Rodman Street. The second attempt was at North Bancroft Parkway. Police documented both incidents. The evidence was collected for the charges filed.
The first teen was charged with possession of burglary tools and second‑degree conspiracy. These charges reflect the nature of the attempted theft. The boy was arraigned in juvenile court. The court set a bail amount of $3,000. The bail was unsecured, meaning the teen was not required to post additional collateral.
The first teen was released on a $3,000 unsecured bail. The bail was set by the court during arraignment. The release was granted without incident. The teen was required to comply with court conditions. The bail amount was set to ensure future court appearance.
The second teen faced two counts of attempted theft of a motor vehicle. He also faced two counts of criminal mischief over $1,000 but less than $5,000. These charges were filed following the police investigation. The teen was arraigned in juvenile court. The charges reflect the severity of the attempted theft.
The second teen was also released on a $3,000 unsecured bail. The court set the bail amount during arraignment. The teen was released without incident. The bail conditions required compliance with court orders. The release allowed the teen to remain at home.
Court Proceedings
Both teens were arraigned in juvenile court on the same day. The arraignment took place after the arrests. The court set unsecured bail for both teens. The arraignment was conducted without incident. The teens were required to appear at a future hearing.
The bail conditions for both teens required them to remain in the community. They were not required to post additional collateral. The conditions also required compliance with court orders. The teens were expected to attend court dates. The bail was unsecured, meaning no additional financial guarantee was needed.
Police officers emphasized the seriousness of the charges. They stated that the teens had engaged in multiple vehicle theft attempts. The officers noted that the teens were 12 years old. The police highlighted the importance of juvenile accountability. The statements were made during the arrest briefing.
The Wilmington Police Department issued a statement about the arrests. They described the teens as 12‑year‑olds. They mentioned the attempted thefts at Rodman Street and North Bancroft Parkway. They confirmed the arrests were made without incident. The department thanked the public for reporting the incident.
The timeline of the incident began just before 11 a.m. on November 26, 2025. The police responded to the call promptly. The teens were detained within minutes. The arrests were processed at the police station. The timeline was documented for court proceedings.
Community Impact
The vehicle theft attempts involved cars parked in the 200 block of Rodman Street. The teens allegedly tried to steal the vehicles before fleeing. The cars were reported as stolen vehicles. Police investigated the vehicles for evidence. The vehicles were part of the case file.
The teens attempted to steal two vehicles during the incident. The first attempt was at Rodman Street. The second attempt was at North Bancroft Parkway. Police confirmed both attempts. The teens were caught before completing the theft.
Police actions included detaining the teens and securing the area. They took the teens into custody without incident. They collected evidence from the scenes. They processed the teens at the police station. They filed the charges promptly.
The legal process involved arraignment and bail setting. Both teens were arraigned in juvenile court. The court set unsecured bail for each teen. The teens were required to comply with court orders. The legal process was completed within the same day.
The juvenile court handled the case for both teens. The court considered the age of the teens. The court set bail amounts of $3,000 for each teen. The court also set conditions for future appearances. The juvenile court handled the case with standard procedures.
The community was alerted to the arrests through a police statement. The statement highlighted the seriousness of the attempted theft. It also emphasized the age of the teens. The community was reminded of the importance of reporting suspicious activity. The statement was released to keep the public informed.
Juvenile Justice and Law Enforcement Perspective
Local law enforcement responded swiftly to the incident. The Wilmington Police Department handled the arrest. The department processed the teens at the station. They filed the charges promptly. The law enforcement response was efficient.
Public safety concerns were addressed by the police statement. The statement noted the teens’ involvement in vehicle theft. It also mentioned the teens’ age. The police emphasized the need for community vigilance. Public safety was a priority in the statement.
Law enforcement perspective focused on juvenile accountability. The officers highlighted the seriousness of the charges. They noted that the teens were 12 years old. The perspective emphasized the importance of following the law. The officers also thanked the public for reporting the incident.
Juvenile justice considerations were mentioned in the court proceedings. The court set unsecured bail for both teens. The court considered the teens’ ages. The court also set conditions for future appearances. The juvenile justice system handled the case appropriately.
Key Takeaways
The summary of the incident highlights the arrests of two 12‑year‑olds for attempted vehicle theft. The teens were charged with possession of burglary tools, conspiracy, theft, and mischief. They were arraigned in juvenile court. They were released on unsecured bail. The case was processed efficiently.
Additional context about the police response was provided in the statement. The statement confirmed that the teens were arrested without incident. It also noted that the arrests were made promptly. The police provided details about the location of the incidents. The statement was released to inform the public.
The court date for the teens was set for a future hearing. The teens were required to appear at that hearing. The court set the date during arraignment. The teens were expected to comply with court orders. The hearing will address the charges further.
The bail details for both teens were set at $3,000 unsecured. The court set the bail amount during arraignment. The teens were released without incident. The bail was unsecured, meaning no additional collateral was required. The bail ensured future court appearance.
The arrest procedure followed standard juvenile protocols. The teens were taken into custody without incident. They were processed at the police station. The officers filed the charges promptly. The procedure complied with legal requirements.
Police procedure included collecting evidence from the scenes. They secured the area around Rodman Street. They collected evidence related to the attempted theft. They documented the teens’ actions. They processed the teens at the station.
The legal charges reflected the nature of the attempted theft. The first teen faced possession of burglary tools and conspiracy. The second teen faced attempted theft and mischief. The charges were filed following the police investigation. The legal charges were appropriate for the offenses.
The bail release allowed the teens to remain at home. They were required to comply with court orders. The bail conditions ensured future appearance. The release was granted without incident. The teens remained under court supervision.
Police cooperation with the community was highlighted. The police thanked the individual who reported the incident. They emphasized the importance of community reporting. They thanked the public for their cooperation. The cooperation helped secure the arrests.
Juvenile legal implications were addressed in the court. The court considered the teens’ ages. The court set unsecured bail for each teen. The court also set conditions for future appearances. The juvenile legal implications were handled appropriately.
Final remarks emphasize the swift response and efficient processing. The police acted promptly. The arrests were processed the same day. The court set bail and conditions. The case was handled efficiently.
