Police recover 85 Coach handbags stolen from Tanger Outlets Rehoboth Beach

State police released this picture of 85 handbags they said were stolen from the Coach Factory store near Rehoboth Beach and recovered from a Mercedes Benz that crashed this morning on Del. 1 near Milford while two suspects were being chased by troopers. Police said the bags are worth $29,000.

State police say they have recovered $29,000 worth of handbags stolen from an outlet store near Rehoboth Beach but two suspects who crashed an SUV while being chased by troopers this morning remain at large.

Police also released the name of a man injured when the suspects’ SUV crashed into the rear of his car on Del. 1 near Milford.

The incident began about 4 a.m. when police responded to an alarm at the Coach Factory store in the Tanger Outlets’ at 34986 Midway Outlet Drive near Rehoboth Beach.

Troopers spotted a black 2007 Mercedes Benz SUV leaving the shopping plaza and attempted to stop it, but the vehicle fled north on Del. 1 at high speed, Master Cpl. Gary Fournier said.

He said troopers were still in pursuit of the Mercedes when, as it approached a slight right curve in the roadway near the Del. 1/U.S. 113 merge, it struck the rear of a northbound 2002 Ford Taurus car, causing both vehicles to spin out of control.

“The Mercedes came to a stop in the center median and the two occupants fled to the west crossing the southbound lanes” of Del. 1, he said.

The driver of the Ford was identified this afternoon as Patrick A. Organ, 41, of Milford. He was taken by ambulance to Milford Memorial Hospital, treated for injuries Fournier said were not life-threatening and released.

The northbound lanes of Del. 1 were closed at the intersection with New Wharf Road/N.E. Front Street about three hours while police investigated the crash and searched for the suspects, calling in a state police helicopter.

Fournier said the two male suspects may be without shoes.

He said one was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and grey sweat pants. The other was wearing a brown or grey hooded sweatshirt with black pants.

Fournier said the 85 handbags taken from the Coach store were recovered from the Mercedes after the crash.

Anyone with information on the suspects is asked to call detective D. Cathell at (302) 856-5850, ext. 214, text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) starting the message with “DSP” or by using the Delaware State Police Mobile Crime Tip Application.

Information may also be provided anonymously through Delaware Crime Stoppers, which offers rewards, at (800) TIP-3333 or www.tipsubmit.com.