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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Video: Public works employee steps up big time to help police nab suspected porch pirate on the run from cops



Surveillance video caught the moment when a Yonkers, New York, public works employee stepped up to help police collar a suspected porch pirate on the run from them last week.

What are the details?

Yonkers police said they spotted Francisco Jose Eder Mateo, 27, of the Bronx, stealing packages from a porch. Police bodycam video indicates the incident took place just after 2 p.m. Jan. 3.

Police said when they approached Mateo, he ran away.

However, surveillance video from another home caught the moment when a good Samaritan — a Yonkers public works employee, in fact — saw Mateo running from cops, got out of his vehicle, and shoved the scampering suspect to the ground.

Video shows the public works employee joining a police officer who was chasing Mateo in subduing Mateo.

Police said Mateo was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, both in the fourth degree and both felonies, as well as other misdemeanors.

Police said Mateo was released on his own recognizance at his arraignment.

"This video shows what happens when everyone works together seamlessly to stop crime," police added. "A resident sees a crime and quickly calls it in, allowing officers to get on the scene quickly; officers flood the area to ensure the suspect can’t get away despite his attempted fleeing, finished off by a good Samaritan who saw an opportunity to help our officers capture a suspect and took that opportunity right to him."

Cops also sent a message to "any future thieves planning to commit these crimes in Yonkers" and suggested they "pick somewhere else. Our residents, officers, and city employees will not stand by and allow you to victimize people in this city. You will be apprehended and delivered to the court system to answer for your actions."

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Doorbell camera footage catches brazen porch pirate stealing package directly from FedEx driver's hands



Police are searching for a brazen "porch pirate" who stole a package directly from the hands of a FedEx delivery driver last week.

Shocking camera footage showed the thief walking alongside the delivery driver — after allegedly having claimed he was the homeowner — before abruptly snatching the package straight from the FedEx employee's hands. The thief then sprinted to a white BMW car parked in front of the house and took off.

The package? A $1,600 iPad.

Jessica Saenz, the homeowner, told WRIC-TV that she was working from home last Thursday when the FedEx driver loudly knocked on her door.

"I was in a meeting, and then the FedEx lady started knocking on my door, like, really hard. I’m like, 'What's going on?'" Saenz said. "She was like, 'Please open the door. Your package just got stolen.'"

Saenz told WRIC she was less concerned about her husband's now-stolen iPad and more concerned about the delivery driver's safety. Fortunately, the driver was unharmed in the incident.

Members of the Chesterfield County Police Department said they have connected the vehicle seen in the Ring doorbell camera footage to another package theft that took place earlier this month. Police are continuing to investigate the most recent incident and are seeking help from the public to identify the man seen in the video.

TheBlaze reached out to the Chesterfield County Police Department, but the agency did not immediately respond.

In a statement, a FedEx representative told TheBlaze, "The safe and secure delivery of our customers’ shipments is a top priority. We are working with local authorities as they investigate this incident."

Stealing packages is a serious crime in the Commonwealth of Virginia and can be considered grand larceny, depending on the value of the stolen items. Grand larceny is a serious felony in the commonwealth, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

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America’s Favorite Engineer Takes His Final Revenge On Package Thieves With GlitterBomb 5.0

Mark Rober mastered a level of punishment that leftist counties won’t get with reduced police budgets and district attorneys who refuse to lock up criminals.