Thieves stealing packages from porches

Updated: Monday, December 8 2014, 07:42 PM EST

By Patrice Walsh

In many cases the thefts are captured on tape. Homeowners can see brazen thieves swiping the gifts and boxes from their front porch just after they are delivered to their homes.

It happened to Denee Forbes. She was inside her house in Rochester and never saw what happened until she checked her surveillance video.

Sure enough, the cameras outside the Forbes home caught the entire crime on tape. That video helped police catch the suspect, who was charged with similar crimes in the City of Rochester and Irondequoit.

Since that happened back in September, the Forbes are more careful when leaving packages on their porch. Denee knows when her items will be picked up and delivered, so nothing is left for long periods outside.

Forbes also leaves her drapes open so she can see what's happening in front of her house. She advises other homeowners to get security cameras to protect their property.

Not only are thieves stealing property, in some cases they are following delivery trucks and then waiting until they leave, to snatch the items.

Companies like FedEx said customers can take steps to protect their deliveries. You can customize the delivery by pinning down when it will arrive or asking that someone sign for the package before it is left on the porch. You can also ask a neighbor to pick up your deliveries or ask the delivery company to leave it in a less obvious spot.

Forbes said the sad thing is that for her door-to-door delivery is a must. She runs a business from her home. It's convenient. She doesn't want to have to pick up items from Fed Ex or UPS.

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Thieves stealing packages from porches