Analysts believe Americans bought a record number of holiday gifts online this year because of the coronavirus crisis. That's given criminals more opportunities to play the Grinch and steal those deliveries. Now neighbors are teaming together to stop them.

Last year, the security company Safewise estimated about two million packages were swiped from homes every day. That was before the pandemic, which led to an increase in online shopping.

A driver delivering a package is a common sight during the holidays. Unfortunately, another sight is also common someone following the delivery truck, with the goal of swiping a package.

It happened to Rob Trigg. A woman who was trailing behind a delivery truck, went onto Triggs porch, stealing a package. "It's devastating, I will tell you that, especially when you come home and you're expecting those packages to be there," Trigg says.

Lucky for Trigg, his next-door neighbor was watching from the window and called police. Authorities caught up with her and found a number of packages inside her car. "We have such great neighbors. We all take care of each other," he says.

Neighbors are taking care of each other nationwide. In Northern California, Isaac Fischer started a Porch Pirate Patrol. "Since a lot of us are working from home, including me, this is something we can do for our neighbors," Fischer says.

Fischer asked neighbors to step outside when they see a delivery truck. "If people see people coming out on their porch, that could be a deterrent," he says.

It worked in New Jersey, too, where Jennie Schafer saw a man reach down and pick up a package from her neighbors' porch. "And I thought, uh uh! Not on our street! So, I immediately went out the front door and onto my porch and started yelling at him," Schafer says. He eventually left empty-handed.

In Texas, a man was able to steal items from several homes, but quick-thinking neighbors contacted police and shared their security footage, which led to an arrest.

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Neighbors Work Together To Stop Porch Pirates - News On 6

FARGO In the season of porch pirates, we often hear about people putting dog poop or glitter bombs in decoy boxes to get revenge. But what is legal to when deterring these thieves?

Around the country, vigilante mail recipients are taking matters in their own hands and posting about it online. There is the common practice of putting dog poop in a decoy box, using glitter bombs, and even going as far as rigging shotgun blanks to scare off patio patrons.

"You put blanks in there and it blows someone's hand off potentially, we might not be talking defense of property," explained Luke Heck, a criminal defense attorney with Vogel Law Firm in Fargo.

While North Dakotans and Minnesotans do have the right to defend their property with force, Heck believes putting blanks and explosives in boxes will invite litigation. If your the decoy is less hardcore, then you are probably not breaking the law.

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"They didn't have the lawful authority to take the package, whether it was a dummy package or an actual package in the first place," Heck said. "So there's a pretty weak argument to where there could be criminal charges for a glitter bomb type situation."

"Open up a box and it takes someone's eye out with glitter, you could be opened up to other types of liability and different areas of the law there too," Heck added.

So what should you do to fend off porch pirates?

Law enforcement officials recommend tracking your package, require a signature or request in-store pickup, be home during delivery or ask a neighbor to bring packages inside.

Call the police if you become a porch pirate victim.

"First and foremost, call the police if something is being stolen from you," Heck urged. "Engaging in self help oftentimes causes more problems than it solves."

A Fargo police spokesperson says their officers are not seeing an increase in package thefts this year.

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Local lawyers warn against the act of revenge against porch pirates - INFORUM

Police in Bloomfield are seeking three men they say stole packages off residents' porches this month.

According to BloomfieldPublic Safety Director Sam DeMaio, the following incidents occurred earlier this month:

The first was on Dec. 2, on the 100 block of North 17th Street.The suspect was captured stealing a package containing $60 sneakers from his front porch on the resident's ring doorbell.

that same day, officers responded to Myrtle Street, where a resident said packages containing aNike Jacket, Vapor max shoes, Nike pants and a Nike Jacket valued at $740 were stolen.

On Dec. 3, Floyd Avenue residents reported two package thefts between 4 and 4:30 p.m. Their Ring doorbells captured the below suspect stealing their packages from the front steps. Both packages were worth approximately $50 dollars. First, was a childs clay toy mold and second was a pair of slippers.

On Dec. 4, anAmpere Parkway resident reported a package theft around 2 p.m., in which a man on a blue bicycle took a $170 package from the front porch.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Bloomfield Department of Public Safety.

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RECOGNIZE THEM? Rash Of Porch Thefts Under Investigation In Bloomfield - Rutherford Daily Voice

Around the world, folks have begun to scramble in order to obtain that perfect gift for the special people in their lives. Although much more of that shopping will be done online this year, it still continues. Toys and dolls, electronics and new tech, kitchen gadgetry, and (my favorite) delectable edibles will all be neatly wrapped and exchanged in only a couple of weeks. And despite the vast array of possible gifts, there remains one item, something we all need, which is rarely gifted. That item is shoes.

So why dont we present those on our Christmas list with a new pair of kicks every now and then? Too expensive? No, even shoes are on Black Friday sales. Too difficult to find? Though there may be a toilet paper shortage, Ive heard no such similar news about sneakers or pumps. No, the reason we dont often gift shoes is because shoes are so very unique to the individual wearing them. Im not necessarily speaking about style, though we do have variant opinions on what makes a good-looking shoe. More importantly, Im referring to the fit. Even if I knew my wifes shoe size (I admittedly dont), I wouldnt dare begin to pick a pair to gift her, because inevitably, they just wouldnt fit right. Only one person knows if a pair of shoes feel right and that is the person wearing them. Im reminded of the old adage, Try walking a mile in my shoes.

How often do we remind ourselves of that maxim and evaluate anothers situation before making a decision or judgment? Too infrequently, I fear. When we take the opportunity to examine the unique experiences of those around us though, and relate them to our own, we can begin to develop empathy which is what the saying is truly all about. We should all make that our goal.

In the end though, we can never truly know what someone else is going through; we can never walk that mile in someone elses shoes. And its a good thing, for I reckon our feet would really begin to hurt by the end of some of those walks.

But despite the fact we cant walk that mile and we dont know what shoes are comfortable to others, much the same way we dont know what those people are going through in their lives, I expect a Size 12 worth of understanding and a shoestrings length of compassion might go a long way in making those miles easier to traverse.

Many blessings of Christmas to you and yours this season.

P.S. I stand corrected Perhaps a few of you realized that I incorrectly referenced Thanksgiving as falling on the last Thursday of November in my last column. Thanksgiving falls, in fact, on the fourth Thursday of each November, which is sometimes, but not always, the last Thursday of the month. A thousand apologies to those who may, as a result of my misinformation, now celebrate Thanksgiving 2023 on November 30th, rather than the 23rd.

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PORCH SWING POINT OF VIEW: Empathy and Shoes - Record Delta

Pride flag Photo Credit: Kevin Goebel/flickr.

An Ohio family claims someone stole an LGBTQ Pride flag that they had hung from their front porch and burned it.

The Fitzpatric family of Wyoming, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati, claims the unknown person came onto the porch to steal the flag and apparently tripped over their Christmas lights. Then the thief burned the flag at the corner of Beech Avenue and Worthington Avenue.

Its a real sense of violation to have somebody come onto your property, Michele Fitzpatric, the mother, told local Cincinnati affiliate FOX19. Its an act of violence; its a threat.

The Fitzpatrics said they put up the flag in June after they discussed the meaning behind the flag, and because their daughter, Maggie, said she was disturbed by the bullying of gay or transgender kids in school.

I think [people] dont necessarily realize the hurt that they are causing for those that are part of that community, Maggie Fitzpatric said.

She said several friends reached out after the flag burning.

They were speechless, Maggie said. They never thought that this type of thing would have happened, especially in Wyoming, adding that she previously believed Wyoming was a very accepting community.

The family told FOX19 theyve ordered a new, bigger flag to replace the burned one, and said that several of their neighbors have ordered similar flags as a show of support.

Bill Fitzpatric, the father of the family, posted on his Facebook page that he and his wife had initially struggled with how to address the incident.

See also:Michigan couple believes their home was vandalized over Trans Pride flag

While the financial impact of this crime is low, the emotional impact is high. We fly that flag to show support for groups of people that are marginalized and victimized just for having the courage to honor their true selves and to pursue loving, fulfilling relationships, he wrote. That someone carries enough hate in their heart to walk up to a house blazing with Christmas lights to steal and burn a gay/trans pride flag shows why we as a community need to be even more vocal in our support.

My flag, just like a gay or trans person living their authentic lives, is not harming anyone and is not offensive to anyone who is not a bigot, Fitzpatric wrote, adding he hopes the incident sparks a larger discussion about the type of community in which we want to live and raise our kids.

Clearly bigotry starts at home, he wrote. Kids arent born hateful; they are taught by their parents, and it can either be reinforced or mitigated by their teachers and peers. If youre not a bigot, please talk to your kids explicitly about hate of all kinds. Dont assume they know how to be against hate, not just passive in the face of it. Give them the tools and support to actively stand up against hate. Your kids are the peers of kids being taught hate at home and can help a good kid born to bad parents be a better person.

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Conservatives are fuming over Ritzs pro-LGBTQ ad

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Ohio family claims someone stole their Pride flag and burned it - Metro Weekly

Chehalis Police Department

Assault Reported

At 9:52 a.m. on Monday, an assault was reported in the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

Hit and Runs

At 2:24 p.m. on Monday, a hit and run was reported in the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

At 7:35 p.m. on Tuesday, a hit and run was reported in the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

Theft

At 2:24 p.m. on Monday, a third-degree theft was reported in the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

Trespasser Reported at Fairgrounds

At 6:44 p.m. on Monday, a trespasser was reported in the 2500 block of North National Avenue, at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds Office.

Victim Reports Being Hit in Head by Bat

At 8:51 p.m. Monday, police received a report of an assault in the 100 block of Southwest Sixth Street. The victim was reportedly hit in the head with a bat. Charges are pending.

Sexual Misconduct Reported

At 9:20 a.m. on Tuesday, police received a report of sexual misconduct from the 500 block of Southwest Chehalis Avenue.

Assault Suspect Arrested

At 10:13 a.m. on Tuesday, police received a report of an assault in the 300 block of Southwest Third Street. Bradley G. Dubay, 27, of Chehalis, was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree assault and malicious mischief.

Shoplifter Reported

At 4:39 p.m. on Tuesday, police responded to a report of a shoplifter in the 1700 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

Man in Underwear and Santa Hat Trespasses on Porch

At 6:22 p.m. on Tuesday, a resident in the 500 block of Southeast Hilltop Drive in Chehalis reported a strange man was standing on his porch in his underwear and a Santa hat.

Centralia Police Department

Saw Stolen

At 8:31 a.m. on Monday, a chop saw was reported stolen in the 2000 block of Johnson Road.

Rochester Suspect Accused of Assault

At 9:37 a.m. on Monday, police responded to a report of an assault in the 1200 block of Alder Street. A 33-year-old Rochester man is being referred to prosecutors on suspicion of fourth-degree assault.

Centralia Man Suspected of Violating Protection Order

At 10:16 a.m. on Monday, police responded to the 800 block of Atherton Street in Centralia for a report of a violation of a protection order. A 48-year-old Centralia man is being referred to prosecutors on suspicion of violating a protection order.

Harassment Reported

At 1:51 p.m. on Monday, a person reported receiving death threats in the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue. The incident is under investigation.

Counterfeit Cash Found

At 1:52 p.m. on Monday, a counterfeit $20 bill was reported in the 1000 block of Harrison Avenue.

Alcohol Stolen

At 2:36 p.m. on Monday, alcohol was reported stolen in the 500 block of South Tower Avenue.

Money Taken

At 4:19 p.m. on Monday, money was reported stolen from a bank account by a person in the 2000 block of Cooks Hill Road.

Centralia Man Faces Malicious Mischief Charge

At 9:19 p.m. on Monday, police responded to the 500 block of South Cedar Street for a report of a person damaging a vehicle. A 24-year-old Centralia man is being referred to prosecutors on suspicion of malicious mischief.

Keys Stolen

At 8:27 a.m. on Tuesday, keys were reported stolen from the 200 block of Centralia College Boulevard.

Package Taken

At 9:38 a.m. on Tuesday, a package was reported stolen from the 1700 block of Harrison Avenue.

Wallet Reported Stolen

At 9:53 a.m. on Tuesday, a wallet was reported stolen from the 1200 block of View Avenue.

Wiring Damaged at Business

At 1:58 p.m. on Tuesday, police received a report of malicious mischief at a business in the 500 block of Harrison Avenue. Wiring was reportedly cut.

Hit and Run

At 2:38 p.m. on Tuesday, a hit and run was reported in the 1000 block of B Street.

Vehicle Tabs Stolen

At 3:21 p.m. on Tuesday, vehicle tabs were reported stolen in the 200 block of Downing Road.

Lewis County Jail Statistics

As of Wednesday morning, the Lewis County Jail had a total system population of 146 inmates, including 130 in general population and 16 in the Work Ethic and Restitution Center. Of general population inmates, 110 were male and 20 female and of WERC inmates, all were male.

Corrections

The Chronicle seeks to be accurate and fair in all its reporting. If you find an error or believe a news item is incorrect, please call the newsroom as soon as possible at 807-8224, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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Sirens: Man in Underwear and Santa Hat Trespasses on Porch; Rochester Suspect Accused of Assault - Centralia Chronicle

It never fails. Every month we have someone fall victim to cybercrime here in our beautiful community. It happens now on a regularly. These scammers are smart. They have skills of persuasion and are sometimes hard to detect. However, we must follow the basic rules of online safety and avoid being the victim of a crime that may cause not only a headache, stress and aggravation, but may cost thousands of dollars.

The holiday season is always a busy time for criminals. Whether it be Black Friday shopping or package theft, they are always on the job. With the impact of the global pandemic, more and more people are turning to online shopping. The usual way of getting those irresistible deals has changed. Amazon and other retailers will probably have their biggest year yet with online orders.

You may ask yourself, how will this affect me? Whether you participate or not in online shopping, you will more than likely get an email that looks like it comes from a legitimate source such as Amazon, Wal-Mart or another online retailer telling you your package may have been delayed. They may say there was a problem with your debit card or credit card or something to bait you into clicking a link. Once you click that link, it may be too late. You may have given a criminal access to your computer and they can see everything. Your banking information, credit card information, and all that confidential information you need to safeguard. They may even have you call a number and before you know it, you have given them your credit card information or even worse, your bank account information.

We have to beware. If you receive an email similar to this, do nothing. Delete it! Call the retailer yourself by looking up the legitimate number on your own, if you suspect there may be a problem with your order. Even if you think there is no way you can be scammed, trust me, it can happen. Always use a credit card for online orders. If you use your debit card and something happens, scammers may be able to wipe out your bank account. Most credit cards come with fraud protection for these type of scenarios. Long story short, believe no emails from retailers telling you there is a problem. Call the retailer if you suspect something is wrong with your order.

So now you have followed the steps of the safe online shopper and your package is set to arrive. The delivery service such as Fed-Ex or UPS or even the USPS lays the package on your porch.

Then what? Are you able to retrieve it once you receive notification it has been delivered? If not, you may be handing a thief a gift. Porch pirates are common in every area in America. They drive around and just look for an opportunity to steal something, especially packages from the front porch.

If you work full-time or cannot be at home, be sure to make arrangements for your package to be received safely. This may be having it delivered to a friends house or your place of work. If this is not possible and you live in Fairfield Glade, call the police department. We will retrieve your package, bring it to the station and lock it up until you can pick it up.

OK, you get home and there is package on your porch addressed to you. It may be clothing, electronics, or anything really. You check your credit card and sure enough, there is a charge to that store and the package is delivered, except you did not order it and it has your name on it.

This is common and this is a huge red flag. Check with your spouse to make sure, they did not order and if they didnt, cancel your credit card immediately and change all your online passwords.

This is a technique criminals use to see if they can get an order through and, if it works, you could have real issues. The next time they order it will be for a lot more money and they may have the package diverted mid-shipment. This is common and can be costly.

Finally remember, no legitimate business will ask you to send gift cards such as Google Play cards or Apple gift cards. This is 100% of the time a fraud.

Happy and safe shopping this holiday season!

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

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Porch pirates and scammers on the hunt to ruin your holiday celebration - Crossville Chronicle

TORONTO -- One out of three online shoppers in Canada say they have had a package stolen off their doorstep, according to a recent survey by delivery service company FedEx.

Mississauga resident Dennis Santos said he recently had a package stolen from in front of his home. His video doorbell system showed the package delivered by a courier company, but not long after, it was snatched by someone carrying a snow scraper and wearing a mask.

These thieves are grabbing packages even while we are in a lockdown. People have switched to online shopping and they are expecting packages at home," Santos said.

Another CTV News Toronto viewer sent in security video showing someone taking a package of his doorstep that contained a $400 winter coat. The person knocked on his door, spent time checking out the package and then left, only to return minutes later and grab it.

Porch piracy has become a costly problem for retailers and the courier industry. Video door bells and security cameras can help but don't stop the thefts.

Experts say there are delivery pods people can buy that a courier can open to lock a delivery inside to make sure its secure. To prevent porch pirates taking packages, people can also ship them to a trusted friend, neighbour or their work address.

People can also request a signature on delivery or opt for in-store or curbside pickup.

Santos said Amazon reimbursed him for the stolen package. He said he will continue to shop online but take extra precautions.

I'm going to be more cautious now to make sure someone doesn't grab them, or I will put a bin on the porch so that they can be placed inside where they are not visible to people walking or driving by, he said.

Experts say that if your package has been stolen, contact the retailer that sold it to you. Different stores will have different policies, but if you never received the item you should be entitled to a full refund or a replacement.

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Porch piracy on the rise due to more online shopping amid pandemic - CTV Toronto

Shiver me timbers, porch pirates are back!

Well, actually they never really left. You'll find thieves taking packages from porches year-round, but with more people staying home during the pandemic comes an increase in online shopping and that means 'tis the season for thieves to take advantage.

Spokane teacher Kathleen Messersmith found that out the hard way this week.

"These guy are apparently not even checking for cameras because they walked right in front of two at least," Messersmith told me on Wednesday. "There was a missed doorbell (notification) at 3:04 pm and then a motion sensor (notification) went off at 3:23 pm."

Kathleen had plenty of precautions in place. She had cameras running and there was even someone home when her packages were brazenly taken in broad daylight, but not even 20 minutes after her three packages were dropped off by her mail carrier, they were gone.

"Somebody just walked up, grabbed three packages, ran back to their car and drove off," Kathleen said.

And after posting the photos and video from her security cameras online, Kathleen found out she wasn't the only one.

"I got at least three other people saying they were hit by the same guy," Kathleen added. "It's really frustrating that it was that quick and it sounds like this car was following the mail man."

"We are aware that thieves use that tactic where they will actually follow delivery vehicles," Spokane Police Sgt. Terry Preuninger said Wednesday morning. "They will stake neighborhoods out and will randomly drive around and be opportunist."

While it's too early in the season to tell exactly how much of an uptick Spokane Police are seeing in package thefts, every year like clockwork, it's an issue.

While you may not get an immediate response, depending on what else is happening and resources available for that day, Sgt. Preuninger said reporting the thefts, no matter how small is important.

"We expect to see it through the holidays," Sgt. Preuninger said. "Fighting crime is a partnership between the community and police. We encourage people to watch out for their neighbors, to protect themselves, but we want you to work with us because we are the people who can often bring the best results."

Kathleen did report her theft to Crime Check and then posted the images on social media in hopes that someone will know the thief.

Sgt. Preuninger said while posting those images to social media can help, citizens who have evidence like that need to make sure they get it to police as well, which is something that can be facilitated through Crime Check (509-456-2233).

Kathleen told me she let Crime Check know she had the video and pictures of the thief, but so far has not been contacted by police to get it.

"I'm trying to get the word out as much as possible since it's popped up that so many people were hit by these people," Kathleen said. "I think there's a good chance that we can all collaborate as a community and get this problem addressed a little bit more."

Kathleen's says the thief got away with a lightbulb, a light display for her TV and perhaps most tragic in all of this, a Christmas gift from her obviously awesome husband: A burrito blanket.

Honestly, our dog would've eaten it so it was more funny as 'look what I was going to get you' rather than actually having it in our house." Kathleen said laughing while trying to find the humor in her situation. "I'm imagining these thieves opening up a package expecting something awesome for Christmas and they get a giant fleece blanket that looks like a tortilla. That kind of almost made my day, but it serves them right."

Porch pirates will often try to sell their bounty online so it's important if you are looking to buy things on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, that you are doing your homework, too.

"If it's too good to be true, often it is," Sgt. Preuninger said. "Doesn't mean that anybody selling something privately like that is wrong, but you need to be responsible because if you take on stolen property you may be exposing yourself to what could be criminal activity, depending on a myriad of circumstances like 1.) How obvious was it that that deal was too good to be true, 2.) What were the circumstances? 3.) What did the other person say?, etc. If I buy a watch from someone and it's engraved and they can't explain why it's engraved and they're selling it for what I think is 1/10th of the value, that's a problem."

If you do your own investigating and happen to find what you think is your stolen property for sale online, again, police want you to call them first.

"You've done some investigating and you think you're going to try and recover your stolen property, we would like you to involve us," Sgt. Preuninger said. "We've had instances where people were 100 percent sure they've found their stolen property and they go to recover it and it turns out they were wrong. You can only imagine the dilemma that causes."

Kathleen told me Amazon did issue a refund, so while they aren't out any money, they are out one magnificent tortilla blanket.

When it comes to ordering online, Spokane Police recommend a security camera, specific delivery instructions for drivers, alternate and secure delivery locations like work or an Amazon locker, being home when you know more valuable items will be delivered, connecting with your neighbors and looking out for each other, and again, reporting the theft to crime check.

If you have a Ring security system, you can also opt-in to local public safety agency video requests. If enabled, you will receive notifications when local public safety agencies are looking for information relevant to an investigation. Ring states on their website that the feature does not grant public safety agencies the ability to see your video recordings "unless you explicitly choose to share them by responding to a video request." More information on that program can be found here.

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Porch Pirates out in full force this holiday season: 'I got at least three people saying they were hit by the same guy' - KHQ Right Now

Kenyon Martin recently reflected on the good ole days in the NBA when players could play with a high level of physicality, unlike in todays game.

As Martin made his case for enforcers, the former New Jersey Nets power forward also mentioned how there were some players who were fake tough on the floor calling out Kevin Garnett in the process.

There were some guys like that back when I played, too. Kevin Garnett was a porch puppy a miniature chihuahua in a Dobermanns body. I told him to his face, Youre a porch puppy. All you do is bark. He never wanted smoke from me, Martin wrote for BasketballNews.com. I told him straight up, You better take your [expletive] back to your huddle before I get mad. Dahntay Jones heard it; you can ask him.

Garnett caught wind of what Martin said, along with all the talk that followed.

The hall of fame big man let everyone know on Instagram that all is well between him and Martin, per Brandon Scoop B Robinson of Heavy.com:

Real bros, real love. Stop it internet. Yall stop it!

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Kevin Garnett reacts to Kenyon Martin calling him a 'porch puppy' - Nets Wire