Porch pirate hits home in Washington Fields: ‘Tis the season for package thefts

ST. GEORGE — Authorities are requesting the public’s help to identify the suspect who reportedly took packages from the front porch of a residence in Washington City several nights ago – a crime that is on the rise due to the influx of online shopping for the holidays.

Washington City Police Lt. Kory Klotz told St. George News the incident took place in the South Washington Fields area, adding this is the first of many package theft reports the department receives during the holidays.

Security footage captured the incident and was later turned over to police. The footage can also be viewed at the top of this report.

The video shows the man arriving at the home in a dark-colored pickup truck that pulls up and stops just out of range of the doorbell camera. He then walks up to the porch, grabs the two packages, including a large box, before quickly walking away.

Anyone with information that can help identify the suspects or the vehicle involved in the theft is asked to contact the Washington City Police Department at 435-986-1515.

Supply and demand for criminals on the hunt for your packages  

An estimated $63 billion will be spent in online shopping this holiday season, but convenience can also provide an opportunity for thieves to save money on their purchases by taking it from others.

Stock image | Photo by Woody’s Photos/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

Security experts say that measures commonly used to deter this type of criminal activity, including bright lighting, gates and security cameras and so on, may not stop criminals from engaging in this type of nefarious activity that spikes after Black Friday and then continues until just after Christmas.

According to a recent study, more than half of those surveyed said they receive some type of package on a weekly basis – up 10% from the previous year, which is not surprising, considering the continued growth of online commerce and that more people are staying at home.

The study also suggests that not only did the number of respondents who reported having a package stolen rise over the last year, but nearly two-thirds of those surveyed reported they were victimized by this type of theft more than once.

In fact, the Postal Police Officers Association, said that parcel theft is at epidemic proportions.

Residents that are at a higher risk of this type of theft include those that live close to a street or in plain sight of onlookers, work during the day, order expensive products, or have lots of deliveries are at a higher risk of having deliveries stolen, according to DeliverySafe.

Batten down the hatches to avoid becoming a target 

Along with the fast and furious rise of online commerce, it is up to consumers to prevent this type of theft from destroying holiday cheer, and Klotz said there are steps residents can take to reduce the risk of becoming a target, and the first is to be mindful of any packages scheduled to arrive, and to make arrangements if those parcels are going to be left unattended for extended periods of time.

He also said with the holidays fast approaching, law enforcement sees a dramatic upsurge in reports involving parcels being stolen, adding that similar incidents are on the rise across the country.

Stock image | Photo by Poike/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

The actual numbers in Washington City may be higher, he said, since there are those who don’t report the theft, or may not even be aware the package had even arrived, since it was gone before they got home.

Klotz said that changing the delivery method can also be helpful. Customizing a delivery time or making sure the packages are signed for at delivery can help deter this type of theft, as well as arranging for in-store delivery. He went on to say in situations where the homeowner is away or unable to collect the parcels,  having a friend, neighbor, or family member collect the packages can also help.

He also said that reporting the theft to the police department can cause a drop in this type of crime, and it helps the community in a number of ways. First, he said, if officers are aware there is an increase in parcels thefts then they can be mindful to look for packages that may appear suspicious during a traffic stop. They can also conduct extra patrols in areas that are hardest hit, since thieves tend to hit several houses along the same street, or hit specific neighborhoods, and so on.

Installing doorbell cameras is one of the most common ways to deter package thieves, similar to what took place in this report, and these small cameras allow homeowners to screen and monitor who comes to their front door in real-time. Also installing motion lights or other type of surveillance camera can prevent package theft.

For criminals, online shopping means package delivery, which is the perfect nexus of opportunity and availability, and with similar police reports like this streaming in from across the country, it is important for consumers to be one step ahead when it comes to package theft prevention.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved.

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