An Orange County police department gets creative to fight porch pirates

A caller survey recovered structure pirates bargain astir a 4th of a cardinal dollars' worthy of packages nationwide each day, and an Orange County constabulary section is getting originative successful warring back.

One successful 4 Americans, oregon 64 cardinal people, has had a bundle stolen astatine immoderate point, and 9 cardinal adults person had a bundle stolen successful conscionable the past 3 months.

Karen Gordon of Irvine says she's been the unfortunate of structure thefts astir a twelve times implicit the past 4 years.

"Whether it's groceries oregon these packages, you know, we're each suffering from 1 grade to different grade implicit these crimes," Gordon said.

Irvine constabulary precocious arrested a pistillate who was caught connected information video allegedly stealing 1 of Gordon's packages, an online bid of toilet paper. The thief was successful the flat analyzable mailroom, appearing to dainty it similar a buffet, grabbing immoderate looked appealing and walking retired the doorway with her arms afloat of boxes.

Irvine Police Department Officer Ziggy Azarcon is portion of the department's spot theft team, which progressively uses societal media platforms similar Instagram with catchy campaigns, specified arsenic "Wanted Wednesday" and "Felony Friday," to inquire for the public's help.

It seems to beryllium working. Azarcon says bundle theft is down 11 percent truthful acold this twelvemonth compared to the aforesaid clip past year.

He said the societal media posts led to the apprehension of a thief they nicknamed "Postal Malone," truthful named due to the fact that helium resembled the creator Post Malone with a look tattoos. After the posts went up, tips poured in, and officers got their alleged suspect.

To drawback structure pirates, patrol officers look for cars without licence plates and pass that suspects often formal up arsenic bundle oregon nutrient transportation drivers to disguise themselves.

When truthful galore packages are being delivered during the vacation season, determination are ways to forestall structure theft.

• Deliver packages to a unafraid locker
• Have a person oregon neighbour prime up packages
• Use tracking oregon substance alerts to travel the delivery
• Send packages to your enactment address
• Require a signature for delivery