Wanted man caught in the act, released under his own name – First State Update

State police arrested Thomas Hetzler, 52, of Wilmington following a series of similar shoplifting incidents at Wegmans, located at 371 Buckley Mill Road in Wilmington.

Authorities said that on the evening of July 4, 2024, at approximately 7 p.m., a Wegmans employee alerted an on-duty police officer that a habitual shoplifter had entered the premises. The employee identified the suspect, Thomas Hetzler, who was in possession of a cart full of groceries. Recognizing Hetzler from previous shoplifting incidents, the officer stopped him as he was leaving the store with more than $300 worth of stolen goods.

The arrest is not Hetzler’s first encounter with law enforcement for similar offenses, police said Friday. A subsequent computer check revealed that Hetzler was under a restraining order from Wegmans issued by the New Castle County Court of Common Pleas. Additionally, he had outstanding arrest warrants for shoplifting offenses that occurred on March 19 and June 26, 2024, at the same Wegmans location, police said. In each case, Hetzler allegedly filled a shopping cart with groceries and left the store without making payment in those instances as well.

Following his arrest, Hetzler was transported to Troop 1, where he was charged with organized retail theft (felony), two counts of shoplifting under $1,500 and third-degree criminal trespass. He was arraigned in Peace Court 2 and later released on $5,250 unsecured bail, despite his repeated offenses.