'Porch Pirates' Seemed To Know When Cell Phone Deliveries Would Arrive: Wayne PD

WAYNE, NJ — Two Wayne residents have witnessed someone stealing packages from their porches recently, and police are trying to figure out how the thieves knew that those particular deliveries were en route.

In the past month, police said that the residents — who were expecting cell phones to be delivered to their homes — saw the boxes snatched soon after they arrived.

A Wayne Township Police spokesman said that the perpetrators seem to know when and where the packages are being delivered.

"We do believe that the thieves are somehow becoming aware of these cell phone deliveries," Detective Captain Dan Daly told Patch, adding that police are still investigating "the means by which (the thieves) are learning that information."

Three men, who are not Wayne Township residents, have been arrested and charged in connection with the thefts, one which took place July 12 on Laurel Drive, and the other on July 30 in the Heritage Manor neighborhood.

In both cases, the homeowners spotted the alleged thieves on their home security cameras, and police were able to track down the packages — as well as a box which had been stolen from another residence.

Officers staked out the Laurel Drive location on July 12 and a detective was inside the home to confront the alleged thieves, as the homeowner said a similar package had been stolen several weeks earlier "as soon as it was delivered."

While police are still investigating these crimes, Daly advised residents "to be vigilant if expecting a similar delivery, and report anything suspicious to us."

Related articles

• Package Thief Caught On Porch After Wayne Police Stakeout; 2 Charged
• Man With Amazon Vest Stole Package Off Resident's Porch: Wayne PD