Chief Jamie Leonard and investigators from the New Castle County Police Department told the county council at an Oct. 14 public safety meeting that burglaries and auto thefts have evolved into more sophisticated, often out‑of‑state operations and recommended expanded camera coverage and simple resident precautions.

The presentation, delivered by Sergeant Robert McGuire of the department's criminal investigations unit, said the department's burglary clearance rate is substantially higher than the national average and that the nature of burglaries has changed. "Delaware sits in the national average for per capita burglaries... for New Castle County Police Department, we average, annually somewhere in the neighborhood about 40% clearance rates," McGuire said, noting the department recorded a 44% clearance rate in 2024. He added investigators now face more organized groups and techniques than in previous years.

McGuire singled out a recurring pattern the department calls "SADGI" burglaries (South American theft groups). "These are groups that . . . typically target wealthier individuals of either South or East Asian descent," McGuire said, describing pre‑operational surveillance, methods to defeat security systems, cutting power to residences and travel from outside the state, often the New York metropolitan area. He said those factors make these cases difficult to solve and to recover stolen property.

The department also reported rising auto thefts. McGuire said the department recorded 759 auto thefts in 2024 and was at 507 through September 2025. He described three categories of vehicle thefts: Kias and Hyundais targeted by younger offenders exploiting a vulnerability promoted on social media; higher‑end vehicles taken using reprogramming devices; and thefts from unsecured vehicles. "Lock your doors, lock your doors, lock your doors," McGuire said, repeating the basic prevention advice.

Police recommended more license‑plate reader (LPR) cameras and home surveillance where feasible. McGuire named two LPR systems the department uses, saying their footage can help trace out‑of‑state tags. "If either the police department or some of these homeowners associations could be convinced to purchase cameras to put on the entrances and exits in these neighborhoods, that would assist greatly," he said.

The department cautioned that not all commercially available home cameras help investigations if owners do not maintain subscriptions or battery power. McGuire recounted a burglary in which victims' social media posts about a vacation may have coincided with the break‑in; he urged people to be cautious about posting travel plans.

Council members asked the department for vendor and cost information to help homeowners associations evaluate cameras; McGuire said the department could provide options but not recommend a specific company because of ethics considerations. Master Corporal Anthony Pierce of the Community Services Unit also reminded members that the unit provides community safety presentations and printed flyers with short prevention tips.

The presentation drew follow‑up questions about patrol coverage in particular neighborhoods and the department said it would follow up with the state police or local patrol captains where jurisdiction overlapped (for example, commercial corridors patrolled by state police).

Ending: Council members accepted the briefing and asked staff to return with camera options and cost estimates; no formal policy or ordinance change was taken at the meeting.