DOVER, Del. - The Delaware State Police say they have arrested 67-year-old, Michah Cuffee Sr. of Dover, following a multi-month investigation into the theft and storage of approximately $50,000 worth of merchandise stolen from multiple retail stores in the Dover area.
According to police, troopers began investigating Cuffee after receiving information that he was recruiting people struggling with drug addiction to steal merchandise from retail stores in exchange for narcotics or cash.
During the investigation, detectives determined that Cuffee was storing stolen merchandise at a motel in the 1700 block of North Dupont Highway in Dover.
On Aug. 4, troopers, with assistance from the Delaware State Police Criminal Investigations Unit, responded to the motel and recovered a large quantity of merchandise stolen from multiple retail stores.
Police said the merchandise included items from Victoria’s Secret, TJ Maxx, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Old Navy, Ross, Walmart, Bath & Body Works, Sam’s Club, Ulta Beauty, Five Below and Redner’s Markets, among others. Detectives determined the total value of the stolen merchandise was approximately $50,000.
Michah Cuffee Sr. of Dover. (DSP)
Investigators also determined that Cuffee intended to ship the stolen merchandise to another country. Police said Cuffee also provided law enforcement with a false statement during the investigation in an attempt to avoid prosecution.
On Aug. 13, troopers obtained a warrant for Cuffee’s arrest. He later turned himself in at Troop 9.
Cuffee was charged with felony counts of organized retail theft over $1,500, receiving stolen property valued over $1,500, providing a false statement to law enforcement with intent to delay or hinder an investigation, and second-degree conspiracy.
Cuffee was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court and released on an $8,000 unsecured bond.
