New Castle County, DE – Delaware State Police have arrested a 42-year-old Elkton, Maryland man in connection with a string of restaurant burglaries that investigators say stretched across nearly two years and multiple jurisdictions.
According to the Delaware State Police, the Property Crimes Unit linked Keeno Exum to 26 burglaries committed between January 2024 and December 2025, primarily targeting Asian and Hispanic-owned restaurants during early morning hours.
Investigators said the suspect allegedly struck businesses between 4:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., often wearing similar clothing and a black mask. Police say the suspect would either pry open doors or smash glass to gain entry, then ransack offices and cash registers before fleeing on foot with cash.
Detectives determined the same individual was responsible for similar burglaries in surrounding areas, including Middletown, Delaware, and worked jointly with Middletown Police to identify Exum as the suspect. Authorities also learned Exum allegedly used multiple vehicles, including a Toyota Camry, during the crime spree.
On Monday, December 15, 2025, at approximately 6:15 a.m., troopers spotted Exum driving the Camry on Old Capitol Trail near St. James Church Road in Wilmington. Police attempted a traffic stop on Kirkwood Highway near Delaware Park Drive, but according to authorities, Exum allegedly fled at a high rate of speed. The pursuit was discontinued after crossing into Pennsylvania.
Police later tracked the vehicle to an apartment in the 800 block of Clear Blossom Drive in Elkton, Maryland. With assistance from the Elkton Police Department, detectives executed a search warrant around 11 a.m., where Exum allegedly attempted to escape by jumping from a second-story window before being taken into custody.
Investigators recovered clothing and items believed to have been used during the burglaries. Exum was extradited to Delaware on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, and charged with dozens of felony offenses, including burglary, theft, possession of burglar tools, and fleeing police. He was committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $321,611 cash bond.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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