Porch pirate walks up to FedEx driver, claims he's homeowner, wants package — but wise driver steps up, flips script on crook



A FedEx driver in Florida prevented a porch pirate from stealing a homeowner's delivery items last week, police said.

Doorbell video posted online shows a male approaching the FedEx driver, who is standing on the porch of a home in Hialeah on Friday, WPLG-TV reported.

'That FedEx driver was already able to capture a picture of his car and his tag,' Hialeah Police Lt. Eddie Rodriguez told WPLG. 'We want to know if this man is responsible for other theft packages in the city of Hialeah.'

Police said the male claimed to be the homeowner and wanted to take the packages, which contained new iPhones, the station said.

But the unidentified driver wasn't so easily fooled and asked the male to prove his identity, the station said.

In the full doorbell camera video posted on Only in Dade, the FedEx driver notices the male walking up the driveway toward the home, and the driver says, "No. Who are you? No, open the door."

But the male keeps walking toward the porch — and suddenly stops and turns around and walks away when the driver holds up his cell phone, presumably to record video or take a photo.

"I don't know you," the driver is heard saying, adding to the male, "I'm gonna call the police."

WPLG said the real homeowner — who asked to be identified only by his first name, Anthony — was watching the scene play out remotely.

Suddenly the homeowner's voice is heard asking, "Hey! What's going on?" as the driver follows the male back down the driveway. The FedEx driver then yells, "Got you!"

After that, the driver runs back up the driveway to the porch shouting "Yo!" and then knocks on the door and informs the homeowner about the male who was "trying to steal" the delivery.

Anthony told WPLG that the driver told the male, "If you do live here, open the door and show me some ID, and I’ll give you the phones.'"

The male was seen driving away in a red Hyundai, the station said.

“That FedEx driver was already able to capture a picture of his car and his tag,” Hialeah Police Lt. Eddie Rodriguez told WPLG. “We want to know if this man is responsible for other theft packages in the city of Hialeah.”

FedEx released a statement to the station that read, in part, "The security of our customers’ shipments is our top priority, and we appreciate our courier’s quick actions to make sure the shipment was delivered to its intended recipient. We encourage any customer who believes a shipment has been stolen to immediately contact local law enforcement.”

Police are investigating and said those with information should call them, WPLG reported.

WTVJ-TV said the homeowner indicated the FedEx driver knows his family well and expressed gratitude to the driver for his decisive actions.

You can view a video report here about this incident.

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Texas girl, 7, who went missing is found dead; FedEx driver arrested for murder, kidnapping



Authorities said a 7-year-old Texas girl who went missing from her home earlier this week was found dead Friday evening, CBS News reported, adding that a FedEx driver has been arrested for murder and kidnapping.

What are the details?

The network, citing KTVT-TV, said Athena Strand disappeared Wednesday evening from her father's home in Paradise — a city with only 475 residents just over an hour northwest of Dallas.

A huge multiagency search ensued involving hundreds of volunteers, CBS News said.

Athena's body was located after a tip investigators received earlier Friday, the network said, citing Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin.

Her cause of death was not released, CBS News said, adding that the exact location where her body was found was not disclosed, either. Akin did say her body was located southeast of the Wise County town of Boyd, the network added.

The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Tanner Lynn Horner, CBS News said, adding that Akin said the suspect was taken into custody Friday on charges of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping,

Akin added that Horner was a FedEx contract driver who delivered a package to Strand's home about when she disappeared, the network reported.

"We knew early on in the investigation that there had been a FedEx driver [who] made a delivery in front of the house about the same time that little Athena, 7-year-old Athena, came up missing," Akin said, according to CBS News.

Investigators believe Strand died "within the very hour or so after her departure from her home," Akin added, according to the network.

The sheriff also said Horner confessed to the crime and that investigators obtained "digital evidence," CBS News reported, adding that Akin didn't elaborate.

"We do have a confession," the sheriff said, according to the network.

Horner, of Lake Worth, Texas, is being held on $1.5 million bail, CBS News noted.

The sheriff's office said it received a call from Athena's stepmother on the evening of the girl's disappearance reporting her missing after the two had an argument while her father wasn't home, KTVT reported. Police said the stepmother spent "about an hour" looking for Athena before contacting the sheriff's office, the station added.

Akin told CBS News that FedEx cooperated with investigators.

"Our thoughts are with the family of Athena Strand during this most difficult time. Words cannot describe our shock and sorrow surrounding this tragic event," FedEx said in a Saturday statement. "We continue to cooperate fully with the investigating authorities."

Athena Strand: Suspect in 7-year-old girl's death held on $1.5 million bondyoutu.be