2 Thefts Reported In Chatham Township, Police Issue Warning

CHATHAM, NJ — The Chatham Township Police Department has released information on two separate theft occurrences that took place in the township last month.

According to Chief Thomas Miller, on Oct. 24, Chatham Township Police officers responded to the Chatham Mall at 650 Shunpike Road for a reported theft of a purse.

The victim told police that she left her purse at a Chatham Mall and that someone stole it and used her credit cards to make false payments at numerous businesses.

An investigation conducted by Detective Michael Bloom determined that Soffia Tuli, 29, of Rockaway Township, had committed the theft. On Nov. 16, Tuli was arrested and charged with theft and fraudulent use of credit cards.

Tuli has since been released pending a future court date, Miller said.

On Oct. 4, at 2:27 p.m., Chatham Township Police Officers responded to a residence on Runnymede Road for a reported theft of a FedEx package. According to the resident, an unknown suspect stole a parcel from his front porch that contained multiple iPhones that had been delivered earlier in the day.

Detective Jim Lattoz's investigation ultimately led to the identification of Joe Estrella-Peppen, 25, of Newark, as a suspect.

Estrella-Peppen was arrested and charged with one count of theft and then released pending his future court date, Miller said.

Local police departments have been asking residents to be on the lookout for “porch pirates," thieves who steal packages right off doorsteps.

Three out of four Americans had a package swiped in the past 12 months, the security company SafeWise reported earlier this year.

"If you look at the entire U.S. population, that could mean over 119 million stolen packages. But even though fewer people who've ever been a victim of package theft told us porch pirates hit them in the past twelve months, the overall number of people targeted in the past year went up," the report said.

Locally, police say package thefts can be a tricky crime to catch and report. The police have shared some suggestions to protect against theft:

• Shop at reputable websites: Purchase gifts from reputable websites and name-brand online stores.
• Use credit cards: Purchases made with most major credit cards are protected from loss. Contact your card issuer for details.
• Track your packages: Shipping companies offer package tracking alerts by sending you emails or texts so you can follow packages through each and every step of the delivery process.
• Install a home security camera and smart lights: Security cameras are great because they can capture footage you can share with the police. Smart lights are also a great deterrent and you can control them easily. A well-lit home is a safer home.
• Keep your front yard and driveway clean and tidy: Keeping the exterior of your home tidy and clean can discourage thieves.
• Have a backup plan to get packages inside quickly: If you're expecting a package and won't be home to receive it, ask a neighbor, friend, or family member to get it for you. If you expect to be away or traveling during the holidays, ask your neighbor to help by picking up your packages and mail.
• Report stolen packages: If your package is stolen, contact the shipper and then follow up by reporting the stolen package to the police.