A recent study indicates that porch pirates are responsible for stealing approximately a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of packages across the nation each day. In response, an Orange County police department has devised innovative strategies to combat this issue.
Statistics reveal that one in four Americans, totaling around 64 million individuals, has experienced package theft at some point in their lives. Alarmingly, around 9 million adults have reported such thefts within the last three months alone.
Karen Gordon from the Irvine Police Department has fallen victim to porch thefts approximately twelve times over the past four years. “Whether it’s groceries or these packages, we are all affected to varying degrees by these crimes,” Gordon remarked.
Recently, Irvine police apprehended a woman who was captured on security footage allegedly stealing one of Gordon’s deliveries—an order of toilet paper. The footage showed the thief in the apartment complex mailroom, indiscriminately selecting items as if it were a buffet, before exiting with her arms laden with boxes.
Officer Ziggy Azarcon, a member of the Irvine Police Department’s property theft team, emphasizes the growing use of social media platforms like Instagram for outreach. Their engaging campaigns, including “Wanted Wednesday” and “Felony Friday,” encourage community involvement in reporting thefts.
This approach seems effective; Azarcon notes that package theft has decreased by 11 percent this year compared to the same period last year. The social media initiatives led to the capture of a suspect dubbed “Postal Malone,” due to her resemblance to the artist Post Malone, characterized by facial tattoos. Following the campaign’s launch, numerous tips were received, culminating in the arrest of the alleged thief.
To deter porch piracy, patrol officers advise vigilance, particularly in identifying vehicles lacking license plates. They also caution that suspects may disguise themselves as package or food delivery personnel.
During the holiday season, when package deliveries surge, there are several preventive measures individuals can take:
- Have packages delivered to a secure locker.
- Request a friend or neighbor to collect packages on your behalf.
- Utilize tracking services or text alerts to monitor deliveries.
- Direct deliveries to your workplace.
- Require a signature upon delivery.
In other local news, a Baby Jesus statue stolen from a Nativity scene in Westmoreland County has been returned, and dozens have been arrested in a retail theft operation targeting Target stores in the Sacramento area. A small plane has also crashed into a building at Van Nuys airport, leading to the arrest of a man for allegedly attempting to steal it. Furthermore, Brea police have arrested a school board member for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a minor, and a video has surfaced showing a driver towing a car with a four-year-old inside near a Sunrise restaurant.
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