TAMPA — Tampa Police Department is searching for the person or people responsible for several package thefts in a Tampa Neighborhood.
Tampa Police are now searching for thieves staking out a Tampa neighborhood, stealing hundreds of dollars worth of holiday gifts.
The thieves, targeting a community on Davis Islands, stole more than $200 worth of gifts off a doorstep, just 15 minutes after they were delivered.
The homeowner, who chose not to give his name to protect his family, showed ABC Action News the home surveillance cameras that captured the theft, which all happened in a matter of 10-15 seconds.
"There's no hesitancy," he said. "No looking around. It was a little crazy."
While watching the home surveillance cameras, the family realized their neighbors also got hit by the same person, who pulled in just across the street.
"We're just standing there talking and the video is still playing," the homeowner said. "All of a sudden my wife looks at it and says 'hey, that's the same car! It's going into the neighbor's driveway!"
Tampa Police believe this person is responsible for several package thefts around the area.
They say the best thing you can do to protect yourself is to track packages online, schedule deliveries for when you are at home or pick them up at the post office, a trusted friend or family member or secure pickup location, like the ones offered by Amazon.
They also say it's a good idea to request a signature when you are getting an important delivery.
"If you have someone sign for it, that means they are giving it to someone who lives there at the house and they don't have to leave it outside," said Stephen Hegarty, public information officer with the Tampa Police Department.
In the meantime, postal workers say they are going to share the video of the porch pirates with other carriers in the area, in the hopes of helping police discover who is responsible.
