Porch pirates posing as Amazon drivers wanted for thefts in Bucks, Delaware counties
HAVERFORD TWP., Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Two police departments in the Philadelphia area are investigating similar crimes involving porch pirates dressed as delivery drivers.
In Haverford Township, police say the porch pirate struck on Thursday, May 16, on the 600 block of Covington Road in Havertown.
Surveillance video captured him walking up to Kevin Clapano's front door, where a package containing a new iPhone had just been delivered.
"The product was delivered at 12:12 p.m., and then the guy came in at 12:16 p.m.," Clapano told Action News.
The thief was captured on Clapano's Ring security camera.
Dressed as an Amazon delivery driver, the man walked up to the door pretending to deliver a package. Instead, he walked away with the package containing the iPhone.
"He pretty much took the device, hid it under the cardboard, and then walked away from our house," Clapano said.
Clapano said when he got home to find the package was gone, he checked his surveillance video to see what had happened. Then, he called police.
A similar case is currently under investigation in Bensalem.
Bensalem police shared pictures from May 2 and 17 that show a man, also dressed as an Amazon delivery driver, stealing packages containing iPhones after FedEx delivered them.
Action News spoke to an Amazon spokesperson about these incidents.
"Unfortunately, there are bad actors out there who will wear Amazon-branded vests or lookalike apparel and steal packages from customers homes like this," Montana MacLachlan, a spokesperson, said.
MacLachlan said Amazon continually monitors these kinds of situations and that the company is also trying to prevent people from purchasing their gear.
"Amazon does regularly monitor the internet and online retailers for resale of unauthorized Amazon vests and ask those items be removed from those online retailers," she explained.
Speaking with Action News on Friday evening, Clapano said this situation is a reminder to take extra precautions with any valuables that are being delivered.
"Just make sure you tell the delivery company to have a signature before they hand off the package," said MacLachlan.
Anyone who can identify the individual responsible for the theft in Havertown is asked to contact Det. Stephen Rost with Haverford Township police at 610-853-1298 ext. 1127 or SRost@havpd.org.
If you have any information regarding the identity of the repeat offender in Bensalem, you're asked to call police at 215-633-3719.
