KENT COUNTY — One suspect was arrested and another awaiting extradition in alleged connection with multiple burglaries to chicken farms in southern Kent County, Delaware State Police said.

Beginning in February and continuing through April the Troop 3 Property Crimes Unit began investigating numerous burglaries in southern Kent County, spokeswoman Master Cpl. Melissa Jaffe said. Authorities found that an unknown suspects(s) were gaining access to chicken farms and removing tools, hunting equipment, and firearms. Investigation identified Clifton McKinney, 33, of Greenwood and Jarel Schaefer, 37, of Denton, Maryland as suspects, police said. The two allegedly pawned numerous stolen items at local pawn shops, authorities said.

Charges include third-degree burglary (five counts), possession of burglary tools, theft of a firearm (five counts), felony theft (three counts), theft (two counts), falsifying business records, theft by false pretense, selling stolen property and criminal mischief.

Mr. McKinney was taken into custody without incident at a residence in the 2400 block of Hickman Road and transported back to Troop 3.
He was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Court and received a $19,500 unsecured bond, however was committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution in Georgetown in reference to having warrants out of Maryland.

With the assistance of the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office, police said Mr. Schaefer was taken into custody in Denton. A search warrant was executed on both his camper and his vehicle resulting in the recovery of stolen property, police said. Additional stolen property was recovered from the local pawn shops.

Mr. Schaefer is currently being held at the Caroline County Detention Center in Maryland awaiting his extradition back to Delaware.