Porch pirates have stepped up their game in Calgary and surrounding areas with one doorbell camera video showing a thief using a U-Haul truck to make off with the stolen goods.
Tammy Johnson sent Global News the video, which was captured Wednesday morning at her home in Chestermere. It shows a man walking up to her front porch, grabbing an Amazon package and then scurrying away.
But Johnson said what the video showed next really surprised her.
“You can see very clearly that this person jumps into a U-Haul truck and just drives away,” she said. “This is clearly a very well thought out operation, well executed operation. They have rented a truck and they are on their way to pick up many other gifts along the way.”
“It was definitely not a one-off.”
Tammy Johnson shows Global News the video of porch pirates making off with her package.
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Package thefts outside doorsteps are certainly not uncommon crimes – certainly not during the holidays. An increase in e-commerce sales has seen criminals take advantage.
But the “porch pirate” crime is one that is new to Chestermere RCMP. Police told Global News that Johnson’s report is actually the first one they have ever received.
We also reached out to the Calgary Police Service, who told us statistics are difficult to come by.
U-Haul also does not have statistics on how often its trucks have been used in these types of crimes. A statement from U-Haul International reiterated that rentals are for legitimate, moving purposes – not crimes.
“U-Haul employs a robust investigative unit that works closely with law enforcement to ensure that individuals involved in criminal acts involving U-Haul equipment are caught and prosecuted.”
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Johnson hopes the thief will be caught before he strikes again. She is also considering ordering anything online again and having it delivered to her home.
What exactly was in the stolen package, she has no idea. All she knows is that it was valued at about $100 and contained her Christmas presents from her husband.
Still, she’s glad it wasn’t her children’s presents, and adds that she doesn’t intend to let the thieves steal her Christmas spirit.
“I’m just so grateful that it wasn’t something that couldn’t be replaced.”
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
