WILMINGTON — A 65-year-old man, Delone Alford, pleaded guilty to breaking into homes in River Lights and stealing appliances, causing significant damage to homes, and even ramming his truck into a witness’s vehicle when trying to make his escape.
“On the morning of June 8, 2019, Wilmington Police were dispatched to a report of a break-in and larceny at a new construction home on Snowden Road in the River Lights Community. A realtor noticed water coming from underneath the front door and the inside garage door. When the realtor entered the home, he found the entire home was flooded and the refrigerator and dishwasher had been stolen. There was extensive damage due to flooding to the home, which was unoccupied but under contract at the time,” according to a press release from District Attorney Ben David.
The flooding occurred when Alford cut the water line to the dishwasher.
“The Wilmington Police Department Crime Scene Investigation responded and were able to lift prints from a microwave that the suspect had attempted to remove. Two of those prints were later identified as belonging to Delone Alford,” according to the release.
On the same day, a construction manager realized another home in the neighborhood had been broken into and the refrigerator was missing.
“After calling 911, the manager witnessed a green truck with an attached trailer hauling two refrigerators away from the River Lights community. The manager caught up with the truck, which was being driven by Alford, on River Road, and told Alford to stop. Alford attempted to flee, going over a median and driving the wrong way down the road. When the manager caught up with Alford again, Alford slammed the trailer into the manager’s truck, dropped the trailer on the street and fled the scene,” according to the release.
Alford, who has been labeled a habitual felon, has been sentenced to 103–136 months in prison.
“Alford’s prior convictions include multiple breaking and enterings, larcenies and forgeries. Alford was previously convicted of habitual felon status and felony breaking and entering in 2007 where he served a 90-117 month prison sentence,” the release concluded.
