Serial Cigarette Bandit Nabbed In Delaware

Delaware state police say they've arrested a man connected to five robberies related to Newport cigarettes.

The suspect is tied to robberies at five convenience stores and each time Newport cigarettes were the products he allegedly stole.

Mark Mulrooney, 30, was formally charged with five counts of misdemeanor shoplifting. He was arraigned and released on a $2,500 unsecured bond.

Police have linked Mulrooney to thefts at Gas Way, Cumberland Farms, Hess Station, Cumberland Farms and Wawa in Claymont and New Castle.

Police said in each case, the clerks at their stores got a good description of the suspect, a description of his get-away car (a red Chevrolet Cavalier) and the tag number on the car.

A trooper looking into the Wawa case came across an occupied Cavalier at a Universal Gas Station and found Mulrooney, and took him into custody

Police believe Mulrooney was stealing the cigarettes to sell on the street.