NEWPORT BEACH-On the afternoon of Tuesday, October 11, 2016, the two suspects pictured above were involved in a package theft (and an unsuccessful package theft attempt) in the 500 block of San Bernardino.
At approximately 2:00 p.m., a package was delivered to the victim’s residence. The victim was home at the time, and confirmed the delivery on his video surveillance system, but did not immediately retrieve the package from his front porch. About 20 minutes later, the victim checked his surveillance system again and saw the female suspect at his front door. She picked up the package and began walking towards a red sedan, which was parked in front of the home. As the victim left the residence to confront the woman, he saw her get into the front passenger seat of the suspect vehicle. The male driver then sped away before the victim could contact the suspects.
During the same time frame, a neighbor across the street reported that the male suspect had approached his home’s front porch. The neighbor had then opened his front door, startling the suspect. The suspect quickly excused himself and returned to the sedan. The neighbor noted that there was a package on his front porch at the time of this activity, and he believed that the man was trying to steal it.
The Newport Beach Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying these two suspects. Anyone with information as to their identities, or about the package theft, is encouraged to contact Detective Jonathan Jarema at 949-644-3761 or jjarema@nbpd.org.
As the holiday shopping season approaches, we would like to share the following tips to prevent package thefts:
- When selecting your shipping options, choose one that requires a signature for delivery. In most cases, if you are not home when a delivery is attempted, you can either pick up your package in person, or re-schedule the delivery for a time when you will be able to receive the package.
- Check the website for the company that will be delivering your packages. UPS and FedEx both offer their customers the ability to choose the date and time of their delivery.
- Track your delivery online. Check your package’s delivery status and its estimated delivery time, and try to be home when the package arrives.
- If you are unable to be home to receive a delivery:
o Let a trusted neighbor know that you are expecting a delivery and ask them to take possession when it arrives. Offer to do the same for them when they have a package delivered.
o Consider having your package shipped to your office or the home of a friend or family member who can be home at the time of delivery.
o Check with the delivery company to see if they offer local customer pick-up.
Residents are encouraged to contact the Newport Beach Police Department at 949-644-3717if they witness the following suspicious activity:
- An individual taking a package from a doorstep, or
An individual following a delivery truck and then approaching a home where a delivery has been made. (Even if you do not see a person remove the package from the doorstep, they may have opened the package and removed the contents.)
