Police: Man charged with multiple car thefts, including carjacking with children inside

Wilmington, Del. (WTXF) - Delaware State police say they have arrested a man in connection with multiple vehicle thefts, occurring over the span of five weeks, one of which was a carjacking with children in the vehicle.

On Sunday, troopers responded to the Wawa, located at 4000 N. DuPont Highway, New Castle, for a vehicle theft that had just occurred. Upon arrival at the scene, troopers were advised by a Wawa employee that he had started his 2013 Hyundai Elantra, to warm it up and then went back inside the store to finish his shift, leaving the vehicle unlocked and running. Upon returning to the lot a few minutes later, he discovered the vehicle was gone, according to police.

While searching the area, Troopers were alerted by an area resident, to a suspicious person, who was on foot in the area of Memorial Drive and Karlin Drive. Troopers located the person, who was later identified as Charles R. Mason IV, 44, of Elsmere, and took him in to custody without incident. Police say with information provided by another witness the Hyundai was also recovered in the Comcast parking lot, located at 4008 N. DuPont Highway.

Investigators say they were able to link the suspect to multiple vehicle thefts, including a carjacking as well as other related crimes. Mason was also linked to vehicle thefts that occurred in both New Castle County Police and City of Wilmington Police jurisdictions, according to police.

Delaware State Police say Mason was charged with 7 counts of Theft of a Motor Vehicle, 2 counts of Carjacking 1st degree, 2 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and 1 count each of Attempted Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Theft Under $1500.00, Criminal Trespass 2nd degree, and Criminal Mischief Under $1000.00.

Mason was arraigned and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $127,500.00 secured bond.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective C. Hevelow of the Troop 2 Robbery Unit at 302-365-8566.