Porch Thefts Cost Manalapan Residents $6,000+ Before Holidays

MANALAPAN, NJ — Porch thefts continued to victimize local residents the week before the holiday, police here said.

Police reported the following incidents last week:

• Dec. 18: A Manalapan resident, 50, reported that an unknown person removed a package containing items valued at approximately $2,400 from the porch of a Bristol Road residence. Patrolman Peter Pagano took the report.
• Dec. 16: A Manalapan resident, 46, reported that on Dec. 13 an unknown person removed a package containing items valued at approximately $4,030 from the porch of a Cornell Place residence. Patrolman Peter Pagano handled the report.
• Dec. 14: A Manalapan resident, 54, reported that an item valued at approximately $500 was stolen from a package prior to its being delivered to a Chesapeake Road residence. Patrolman Joseph Santomarco handled the report.
• Dec. 13: A Manalapan resident, 39, reported that an unknown person stole a package containing items valued at approximately $26 from the mailbox of a Dortmunder Drive residence. Patrolman Edward Burns took the report.

All the thefts are being investigated.

Police here have offered some advice on protecting delivered packages:

• Track your packages.
• Work with neighbors to watch for packages.
• Have packages delivered to work or other place you'll be.
• Use a secured delivery locker.