Staff / El Paso Newspaper
Thursday, March 4, 2021 | 17:48
At least two thieves have become a nightmare for the Las Cruces Police (LCPD). Reports indicate that parcel delivery vehicles are tracking and stealing goods outside the homes where they are delivered.
Shortly before 11 a.m. on January 25, a FedEx delivery van equipped with an on-board camera recorded videos of the suspicious vehicle as a passenger entered a house and stole a package that had just been delivered. The recipient of that package witnessed the event.
Las Cruces police obtained the video from FedEx and identified the suspicious vehicle as a gray Hyundai Sonata. The registered owner of the vehicle was also identified. The owner told police that he frequently lends the car to friends and acquaintances. The LCPD is asking for public assistance in identifying the gray Hyundai driver and the passenger who was seen stealing a package from block 1300 of Burley Ct. Police believe the couple is responsible for other similar robberies.
Consumers may also consider purchasing insurance for the contents of the package at the time of delivery. Securing the items does not prevent them from being stolen, but helps to refund them in case of lost items.
Anyone with information about your identity should call the police at (575) 526-0795. The Las Cruces Police Department is actively pursuing a tough operation to combat porch piracy. The operation has already led to an arrest.
Take notes:
Las Cruces police officers suggest following these tips to prevent porch piracy:
Track online deliveries and try to be at home when delivering packages.
Requires a signature for all home delivery packages.
When scheduling a delivery, please leave instructions on where to deliver the package.
Request an electronic notification when the delivery is made.
Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to receive the package upon delivery.
If possible, deliver the package to work or to a place where you know it can be received safely.
Schedule online purchases from major retailers to be delivered to your local store, where you can arrange boarding.
Have the package delivered to a FedEx or UPS store, where it can be stored for collection.
Consider installing a motion-sensitive home security system, such as Ring or Nest, that records videos and sends an instant notification of the activity to your smartphone.
Be a good neighbor, pay attention to any suspicious activity and call the police if you see her.