‘We know the orders are coming in.’ Coral Gables police are ready for porch pirates
As a man and woman ran up to a Coral Gables home, the man tripped and fell. The woman laughed, then grabbed a package off the porch and ran back to their car, Ring camera footage showed.
The man got up, grabbed another package and limped off.
Coral Gables police released the footage saying the pair were porch pirates, stealing packages from someone else’s home Nov. 21. They managed to get away with four Amazon fire pit chairs valued at $200 and a $400 chandelier.
Police said they released the footage as an example of a problem that gets worse during the holiday season when more people are buying and receiving packages.
“We know the orders are coming in,” said Police Chief Edward Hudak Jr.
On Wednesday, Hudak stood in front of “arguably one of the most famous porches in Coral Gables,” Merrick House, to talk about the city’s plan to combat porch pirates. Behind him were the men and women tasked with patrolling the neighborhoods.
“The eve of Thanksgiving is the beginning of a very busy time of the year for the Neighborhood Team Policing Unit,” said Hudak. Neighborhood Safety aides are tasked with moving packages to more inconspicuous locations. Hudak said the team has already moved about 1,000 packages.
Hudak said the department’s partnership with Ring cameras — about 4,000 people in the city have them, he said — helps too. The department can see the footage, which helps identify thieves.
He had a strong message for potential porch pirates: “If you do it here, you will be charged with a felony and go to jail.”
