The Christmas season means an increase in online shopping as people buy presents.
Criminals are looking to play the role of the Grinch this holiday season.
And one insane plan by a Democrat to stop Christmas porch pirates left jaws on the floor.
Michigan Attorney General wants people to play music to stop porch thieves
The Christmas season means that gifts purchased online will be shipped to people’s homes.
Packages waiting to be picked up on porches have become a favorite of thieves.
These porch pirates are stealing packages off of porches and doorsteps.
A spike in package thefts happens every year during the Christmas season from the increase in holiday gift buying.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) urged residents of her state to use music and lights to scare off porch pirates.
“Whether it’s a package or a piece of mail, unattended deliveries are easy targets for porch pirates,” Nessel said in a statement. “By planning ahead and taking security measures, you can make sure your sell-deserved gifts and packages reach you safely while keeping thieves from stealing your holiday cheer.”
Her Consumer Protection Team launched a Holiday Scams Campaign to crack down on porch pirates.
Nessel urged homeowners to make it seem like someone was home to dissuade porch pirates from making their move.
“Even when you’re not home, make it look like someone is present by leaving lights or music on,” Nessel said.
Playing music and leaving the lights won’t deter the professional thieves who are targeting homes in Michigan.
An illegal alien posing as a delivery driver was arrested for stealing from porches
Police in Troy, Michigan arrested 23-year-old Yohangel Martin Polanco Melo, an illegal alien from the Dominican Republic, for stealing packages in the Detroit area.
Melo posed as an Amazon delivery driver to go on to people’s porches and make off with their packages.
He was targeting homes that had bought an iPhone through the mail.
“On each occasion Polanco Melo, dressed in an Amazon vest, bucket-style hat, and surgical mask, would approach a home that had just had an iPhone delivered carrying a small empty package,” the Troy Police said in a Facebook post. “Polanco Melo would leave the empty/unlabeled box and steal the iPhone box, often concealing it under his vest while returning to his vehicle.”
Police are trying to determine how he knew who was receiving a package that contained an iPhone and how many he was able to steal.
“The driver, Polanco Melo was arrested wearing the same Amazon vest, bucket style hat, and surgical mask observed in the numerous surveillance videos/images,” Troy Police wrote. “Officers recovered several iPhones that were inside the vehicle along with several empty boxes.”
iPhones shipped through FedEx have been targeted in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, and Texas.
“They often wear delivery vests to blend in and swoop in just seconds after the FedEx driver leaves,” Mix 95.7 reported. “For example, one woman from Texas reported that five iPhones she ordered were stolen in just seconds while thieves drove by her home several times before the delivery.”
This behavior shows criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their quest to rip off hardworking Americans.