Thieves Targeting Package Deliveries In New Orleans Neighborhood

POSTED: 5:51 pm CST February 16, 2012
UPDATED: 6:21 pm CST February 16, 2012

NEW ORLEANS -- Police are searching for thieves who appear to be targeting merchandise delivered to the front porches of several Uptown homes.At least three such cases have been reported in the past few weeks."A victim comes home and discovers that the package was delivered," New Orleans police Sgt. Warren Keller explained. "They confirm it with UPS, that it was delivered, but the package wasn't received."More than $1,500 in goods have been taken, including a motorized scooter and clothing.Nell Panida was alarmed to hear of the thefts."That is scary -- right there, that is kind of scary," she said.Panida has worked at an Uptown home for 14 years and said she has never heard of crooks targeting deliveries."They usually leave (mail and packages) underneath the rug or they leave it behind the tree right here so that no one can see it," she said.Keller warned there may be other victims who are not yet aware that their packages were taken."I spoke to a UPS facility manager," he said. "He explained to me that they track it as well, and he had a few more incidents, but we haven't had documentation or no one's reported it to us."That's why Keller is urging neighbors to contact the NOPD if they suspect items have been taken from their property.The U.S. Postal Service told WDSU that its carriers will not leave delivered packages on a doorstep once an area has been identified as a target by thieves.

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Thieves Targeting Package Deliveries In New Orleans Neighborhood