Warning To Cyber Monday Shoppers: Watch Out For 'Porch Pirates'

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Cyber Monday is in full swing and police have a warning for people expecting packages to be delivered to their homes: Watch out for "porch pirates."

Police are seeing an uptick in people taking delivered packages off the doorstep of people's homes. One Minneapolis man, John DeMatteo, caught the man who stole his package on camera.

His video shows a to-be thief following behind a delivery driver in north Minneapolis and taking a package from outside his home.

DeMatteo and his wife were actually home when the video was taken.

They were expecting the delivery, but when they didn't see it on the scheduled day, they called to inquire. They were told the package should already be there.

"So, I thought, I got those cameras, maybe I should take a look and see," DeMatteo said. "And, to my shock, I saw it, and it really kind of freaked me out."

According to DeMatteo's timestamp on his camera, the package arrived at 10:30 a.m. By 10:52., it was taken.

"He went through my mailbox also," DeMatteo said.

Minneapolis police say that while this is a crime of opportunity, there are ways to keep your packages safe this holiday season.

"Have the package shipped to a secure location, work or an at-home neighbor," said Sgt. Scott Downing, a Minneapolis Property Crimes Investigator.

Downing says most of the major delivery services can also help.

"You can try having the packages sent to a nearby delivery location," he said. "FedEx and USP have local offices where you can have packages shipped to them and can go there in person and sign for them."

You can also request a text alert when your packages are delivered so you know they are there.

Downing also says that keeping an eye out for your neighbors is key. If you see them get a delivery, wait around a few minutes to make sure someone doesn't come along and swipe it.

Do police often catch "porch pirates"?

With so many homes having video cameras, many of these crimes are caught on tape. Video is key in catching the thieves.

In the 5th Precinct alone, there have been seven of these thefts recently, but only one home had video cameras.

Police have a car description in that case and are actively tracking that individual down.