Maryland Couple Charged After Months-Long Theft Spree

State of DE - Delaware State Police have arrested a Maryland couple accused of stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise from stores in Newark and Bear over the past month. Matthew Osborne, 37, and Haley Barton, 25, both of North East, Maryland, face multiple felony charges.

On June 29, 2026, at approximately 2:20 p.m., troopers responded to the Home Depot at 2000 Peoples Plaza in Bear for a reported shoplifting. Investigators say Barton filled a shopping cart with more than $800 worth of power tools and equipment before running to a pickup truck driven by Osborne. Customers followed her and recorded the incident, and she dropped most of the stolen items before the pair drove off.

On July 9, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Osborne entered the ShopRite at 700 Plaza Drive in Newark. He filled a cart with more than $260 worth of merchandise before leaving in a truck driven by Barton.

On the evening of July 12, the pair went to the Lowe's at 3000 Ogletown Road in Newark. Together, they took more than $930 worth of power tools and equipment before leaving in their truck.

From there, they drove to the ShopRite at 19 Chestnut Hill Plaza in Newark. Osborne filled a cart with more than $470 worth of goods and walked out, and Barton went in to grab the cart, but its anti-theft wheels locked and the pair left without the items.

Later that same night, Osborne returned to the ShopRite on Plaza Drive and took more than $240 worth of merchandise before driving off.

On July 16, at approximately 11:20 a.m., the pair entered Cabela's at 1100 Christiana Mall Road in Newark. They took several airsoft rifles worth more than $560 before leaving.

On July 23, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Osborne and Barton returned to the Lowe's on Ogletown Road. They stole more than $340 worth of tools and equipment before driving away.

On July 27, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Barton went to the ShopRite on Chestnut Hill Road and filled a cart with more than $200 worth of goods. Employees recognized her and tried to stop her as she left without paying, and during the struggle, she pepper sprayed one of them while Osborne came in to help her get away.

Detectives with the Delaware State Police Criminal Investigations Unit tied the pair to each incident and obtained arrest warrants. Osborne and Barton were arrested in North East, Maryland, on July 29. Once they are extradited to Delaware, they will face the following charges.

Matthew Osborne
Attempted Robbery First Degree (felony); Possession of Shoplifters Tools (felony), 4 counts; Attempted Possession of Shoplifters Tools (felony); Conspiracy Second Degree (felony), 4 counts; Theft Organized Retail Crime, 4 counts; Attempted Theft Organized Retail Crime; Shoplifting Under $1,500; Conspiracy Third Degree, 3 counts.

Haley Barton
Attempted Robbery First Degree (felony); Possession of Shoplifters Tools (felony), 4 counts; Attempted Possession of Shoplifters Tools (felony); Conspiracy Second Degree (felony), 4 counts; Carry a Concealed Dangerous Instrument; Theft Organized Retail Crime, 4 counts; Attempted Theft Organized Retail Crime; Shoplifting Under $1,500; Conspiracy Third Degree, 3 counts.

Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.