Wake Forest police nab couple snatching packages off porches
Police on Tuesday arrested a couple in connection with a string of thefts of packages off porches in Wake Forest.
Posted — UpdatedActing on a tip from a resident, police stopped a pizza delivery vehicle on Heritage Lake Road and found several stolen packages inside, including parcels reported stolen from residences along Colonial Club Road, San Remo Place, Heritage Reserve Court, Highgate Circle, Coral Bell Drive and Meadow Flowers Avenue.
Rafael Perez, of 326-G S. Franklin St. in Wake Forest, charged with seven counts each of larceny and possession of stolen goods. Leticia Aldea-Flores, of 3914 Haresnipe Court in Raleigh, was charged with six counts of larceny and seven counts of possession of stolen good. Additional charges may be filed against them, police said.
Victim Stephen Fulmer said he didn't know packages had been stolen from his front porch until a police officer came to his door.
"Unbeknownst to us, the packages had been delivered," he said. "[The officer] went back to his car, pulled out a package for my wife and said 'Here you go.' We got her package back but my package, which had some trinkets in it, is still missing."
Police said "porch pirates" cruise neighborhoods looking for packages that can be taken quickly without notice. Some even follow delivery drivers and wait until a package or packages are dropped off and then snatch them as soon as the couriers leave, police said.
Police said an alert neighbor saw Perez and Flores shining a flashlight on front porches as they drove by.
"A concerned citizen saw a suspicious vehicle sort of casing the neighborhood, called it in and, fortunately, one of our officers was able to stop the vehicle and locate all the stolen parcels," said Bill Crabtree with the Town of Wake Forest.
Police said they plan to search the homes of Perez and Flores for any additional stolen items.
"It's sad. You're stealing from a person that you know they're going to be gifts for somebody else," Fulmer said.
Wake Forest police offered the following tips to residents to help avoid being targeted by porch pirates:
- Require a signature for a package so that they cannot simply be left on the doorstep.
- Have packages delivered to your workplace or to a friend or relative.
- Sign up for delivery service notifications – both FedEx and UPS offer the service for free – and use the alert to arrange for someone to be home when the package is delivered or change the delivery address or delivery date to fit your schedule.
- Designate a specific delivery location, such as a back door or inside a garage, with the U.S. Postal Service.
- Sign up for a P.O. Box at a nearby post office or a UPS Store.
- Help your neighbors by picking up packages you see outside, then send texts or emails to alert one another what you’ve done.
- Call police if you see someone acting suspicious or a vehicle that might be casing the neighborhood.
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