Delaware Retail Theft Spree Ends with Arrests of Haley Barton and Matthew Osborne

Delaware State Police linked two Maryland residents, 25‑year‑old Haley Barton and 37‑year‑old Matthew Osborne, to a series of seven retail thefts and an attempted robbery in Newark and Bear, Delaware. Between June 29 and July 27 the pair stole power tools, equipment and groceries worth roughly $3,500 from Home Depot, ShopRite, Lowe’s and Cabela’s locations, often using a pickup truck to transport the merchandise. On July 27 Barton attempted to leave a ShopRite with over $200 of goods; when employees confronted her, she sprayed pepper spray at an employee while Osborne helped her flee. The duo was arrested on July 29 in North East, Maryland, and face multiple felony charges.

The investigation was driven by video recordings from store customers and a coordinated effort by the Criminal Investigations Unit, which obtained arrest warrants after linking the incidents to the suspects.