Buford 'Porch Pirate' Faces Drug Charges

BUFORD, GA — A probe into a "porch pirate" led to controlled substance charges for a 36-year-old Buford man, Gwinnett County Police said Monday.

The investigation began Tuesday. Police received multiple complaints of package thefts in the 1500 block of Laurel Crossing Parkway.

Police said they identified the suspect as Kyle Thomas Witzel through the use of surveillance video. Witzel was seen on video stealing packages from the community mail room, police said.

Witzel, who lives in the same apartment complex as the thefts, was arrested without incident, police said.

While searching his apartment, police said they found multiple stolen packages, large amounts of marijuana and anabolic steroids.

Witzel was charged on suspicion of three counts of theft by taking, porch piracy, possession of Schedule II controlled substance, possession of drug-related objects and possession of marijuana more than 1 ounce, police said. He was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail, police said.