Caught on camera: ‘Porch Pirates’ strike
In a daring theft caught on camera, a woman smoking a cigarette was seen stealing a package from a Cathedral City family’s front porch.
As more people switch to buying holiday packages online the USPS says they’re reporting more stolen packages.
Kenny Teel had two packages stolen from his front yard. He says he didn’t realize the package had been snatched until a week after it was expected.
“I called Amazon and they said, ‘No, the package was delivered and it was delivered on Friday.’ So I went back to my cameras to make sure they were telling the truth and the postman did drop it off and a few hours later it was lifted from a Christmas shopper, who wasn’t shopping at a store,” Teel said.
Teel said it looked like the porch pirate had struck before.
“She walked up pretty nonchalant with a cigarette in her hand and looked directly at the camera, didn’t hesitate, just kept coming.”
Days after the theft, the Teel family left what they call “a decoy package” outside.
“We left the door wide open, we even watched TV in the room next to the door and within an hour, an hour and a half, the decoy package was lifted,” said Teel.
The eager thief opened the package before he even left the family’s driveway. To his disappointment, the box was filled with Christmas wrapping.
Now, Teel is warning neighbors to watch out.
the post master at the United States Postal Service’s Indio location advises people to take extra precaution when ordering online.
“Get the tracking numbers that’s provided by us, the USPS, to know when the package will be delivered. If you know what day the package will be delivered to you and and you won’t be home ask a friend, neighbor, or some you trust to retrieve that item for you,” said Hostetler.
She also says you can request your delivery to be placed somewhere specifically.
“Carriers leave the item possibly behind a flower plant, a potted plant, so it’s not obvious to any walker by or person that’s just going to be seeing.”
