LASD Warns Consumers of Package Thefts

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station issued a warning for holiday season shoppers who have purchased goods online during CyberMonday sales to be aware their packages may be targeted by mail theives.

CyberMonday means the future delivery of several packages. Although you may be anxiously awaiting their arrival, remember thieves are also on the look out for delivered packages left unattended, especially during the holiday season.

Follow these tips to help keep your packages safe:

–Follow tracking numbers and sign up for delivery notifications so you know the current whereabouts of your package.

–Not going to be home? Ask a trusted family member or neighbor to be on the lookout for your delivery.

–Request the package be left out of view, perhaps behind a pillar, bench, or alongside the house.

–If available, request signature confirmation upon delivery.

–Ordered from Amazon? Secure Amazon lockers are available at various locations throughout the Santa Clarita Valley including Whole Foods and the Valencia Town Center Mall, among other locations.source

SCV Sheriff’s Station Offers Tips On Avoiding Package Theft

Protect Packages From ‘Porch Pirates

Two “porch pirates” wanted in connection to a string of package thefts were taken into custody early Tuesday evening by an off-duty officer in Valencia, who was assaulted while making the arrest.

Around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, deputies responded to Sunset Hills and McBean Parkway in Valencia regarding a theft call, said Deputy Natalie Arriaga, spokesperson for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

“Upon arrival, deputies learned an off-duty officer with an outside agency observed a known vehicle from past porch thefts driving on Brookdale Court and Springtree Place in Valencia,” Arriaga said.

The officer began following the vehicle and identified the occupants of the vehicle as the suspects wanted for past thefts that had been seen in Ring doorbell footage near the end of November, according to Arriaga.

“The officer initiated a traffic stop on Sunset Hills and McBean Parkway in Valencia and notified the Santa Clarita (Sheriff’s) Station,” Arriaga said.

While contacting the occupants of the vehicle, the male adult driver attempted to flee in the vehicle while the officer was attempting to detain him, according to officials.

See Related: Deputies Cracking Down On Porch Pirates As Holidays Approach

However, the officer was able to remove the keys from the vehicle, according to officials. Deputies then arrived on scene and took the suspects into custody.

Upon searching the vehicle, deputies recovered several packages believed to be stolen from at least 10 different locations in Santa Clarita, according to Arriaga.

Tobia Gonzalez Sandoval, 25, from Van Nuys, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, a felony, as well as misdemeanor petty theft, Arriaga added.

The passenger, Yelin Lopez, 28, also from Van Nuys was arrested for misdemeanor petty theft.

The duo was transported to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station’s jail, with bail set at $70,000 for Sandoval and $0 for Lopez, according to arrest records. source

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials are warning of “porch pirates” ahead of the holidays and offering tips on how to keep packages safe.

“Porch pirates” are thieves who steal packages from doorsteps, which increase during the holiday season, especially in a year when more residents are avoiding the shopping crowds.

“Did you get a chance to enjoy Cyber Monday?  Just waiting on those packages to arrive?  With all the excitement, we sometimes forget to be aware of ‘porch pirates,’” wrote Deputy Natalie Arriaga, spokesperson for the station in a public service announcement.

The threat of porch pirates is all too real, as the Los Angeles metro area was found to have the ninth-highest rate of porch theft in the nation, according to a study by security company Safewise.

To prevent package theft, Arriaga offers tips to make sure the holiday goes on without a hitch.

Deputies advise residents to consider delivering your package to your place of work if you can’t be home for daytime delivery.

In addition, it is recommended to follow tracking numbers, sign up for delivery notifications so residents know the current whereabouts of the package.

If the recipient is not going to be home, it is advised to ask a trusted family member or neighbor to be on the lookout for the delivery.

Request the package be left out of view, perhaps behind a pillar, behind a bench, or alongside the house.

Amazon also offers secure locker provided at various locations including Whole Foods, the Westfield Town Center Mall, among other locations.

“We will continue to do our part and conduct crime suppressions and extra patrol checks, but we ask for your help in being on the lookout for suspicious activity in your neighborhood,” Arriaga wrote. “Always report suspicious activity.”

Deputies Cracking Down On Porch Pirates

Santa Clarita residents purchasing more gifts online this year due to the pandemic, Sheriff’s officials are offering tips to prevent packages from being stolen.

With the newest stay at home orders in place, more individuals are purchasing holiday gifts online, according to a social post from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

Now with most sellers providing tracking on most packages, residents are being encouraged to not leave delivered items out for too long.

“Be aware of delivery dates and remove packages from your porch as quickly as possible,” Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s officials. “If you’re not home, ask a neighbor if they can retrieve your items.”

With most mail being delivered during daytime hours, officials recommend having packages delivered to your workplace. Other options include utilizing secure locker pickup locations offered by some companies.

Residents are also able to sign up for Informed Delivery, a program that allows residents to see what mail is being delivered even before making a trip to the mailbox.

The postal service takes pictures of mail as it is scanned at their facilities, and then shares those digital images with residents for free in a daily email.

This way, residents can be aware of important mail that is being delivered, and avoid leaving important items in the mailbox or on their porches.

For residents who may be a victim of a package theft, are encouraged to make a police report, according to officials.

For Santa Clarita Valley residents who own a video surveillance system that captures images of a “porch pirate,” Santa Clarita deputies urge residents to contact the Santa Clarita Valley

Sheriff’s Station, and resist the urge to immediately share on social media community groups, as it may hinder detectives’ investigations.

In some cases, it has been found that video capturing possible criminal activity is being shared on social media, but yet has not been officially reported.

Deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station have also been conducting undercover investigations, placing packages near doors and having undercover units waiting by for an arrest if the package is stolen, Sheriff’s officials said in a tweet. source