DELAWARE — Delaware State Police have arrested 40-year-old Ronald Keiser of Hartly and 39-year-old Joseph Jackson of Marydel, Delaware, in connection with a series of thefts across Kent County.
The investigation into the thefts began in March 2025 when the Troop 3 Criminal Investigations Unit started looking into several similar thefts in the county. In each case, suspects trespassed onto properties and stole landscape trailers along with the property they contained. Through their investigation, detectives identified a light-colored Toyota 4-Runner as the suspect vehicle, leading them to identify Keiser as a suspect.
On March 25, 2025, detectives executed a search warrant at a property on Brittney Lane in Hartly, where they recovered a stolen John Deere zero-turn lawnmower. Keiser was taken into custody without incident.
Further investigation led to the identification of Jackson as a second suspect. A subsequent search warrant at the same property uncovered both reported and unreported stolen property, including more landscape trailers and a stolen Kia Sorento.
Keiser was arrested on March 25, 2025, and charged with the following offenses:
Theft of a Motor Vehicle (Felony) – 4 counts
Theft $1,500 or Greater (Felony) – 4 counts
Theft under $1,500 – Victim over 62 (Felony)
Receiving Stolen Property over $1,500 (Felony)
Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony) – 7 counts
Selling Stolen Property under $1,500
Criminal Mischief under $1,000
Criminal Trespass 2nd Degree
Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree – 4 counts
He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on a $3,100 unsecured bond. On April 1, 2025, he faced additional theft-related charges and was released again on a $31,400 unsecured bond.
Jackson was arrested on March 31, 2025, and charged with:
Theft of a Motor Vehicle (Felony) – 3 counts
Theft $1,500 or Greater (Felony) – 3 counts
Theft under $1,500 – Victim over 62 (Felony)
Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony) – 7 counts
Theft under $1,500
Criminal Mischief under $1,000
Criminal Trespass 2nd Degree
Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree – 4 counts
He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance.
The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate the incidents. Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective R. Spanier at 302-698-8548, or provide tips via Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
