Porch Pirate Wanted, Caught On Camera; But Resident Not Smiling

SAN JOSE, CA -- A local resident who lives on Via Cancion is fed up with porch pirates and taking matters into her own hands by posting this surveillance camera footage of a woman who brazenly walked up and stole a package from the front stoop of her home located on the 1400 block of Via Cancion.

Beware thief. There's a surprise package out there waiting for you. The resident, Jeewika Ranaweera, has set a bait package full of garbage in the hopes of catching another glimpse of the thief on video, she told Patch. Her neighbor has also placed a package out front filled with dog feces. Neighbors have endured mail and package theft as well.

It's the second time the Ranaweeras have been targeted. Over a year ago, a young boy stole a package from the front of the house.

"She took it like she was entitled," Ranaweera said, after watching the video of an emboldened thief. The resident was also surprised the theft happened so fast. The footage showed the box was taken with 10 minutes of delivery.

Ranaweera's husband, Sen, filed a police report on the disappearance of the package, which was ordered as a gift to an office colleague.

She didn't want the report to collect dust as the only option in a city that sees its fair share of serious crime. So she provided Patch with the video shown here:

A worker at RN Security Systems serving the Silicon Valley said he thought Ranaweera's efforts are creative -- especially in a metropolitan city where police are bogged down with homicides, crashes, stabbings and other violent crime.

Richard Bravo of the San Jose police burglary crimes unit told Patch that specifics are necessary in catching a burglary thief such as address, date and time of the incident as well as suspect information that includes characteristics of the person.

In the Ranaweera's case, the person caught on camera is shown vividly.

"We would ask that if a person recognizes a suspect from a package theft video that they contact the (San Jose Police Department) with that info, via the non-emergency line or online. Because we field such a high volume of theft and burglary reports, we ask that a person with info about a video reference the incident as specifically as possible," Bravo said.

If the crime victim has not made a report or submitted their video, we need them to do that in order to initiate an investigation. A report of package theft can be made in person, online at the police website or by phone at 408-277-8900. The victim should also submit or attach the video of the incident.

--Image courtesy of Jeewicka Ranaweera