Face on the video was familiar; now porch theft suspect is in jail

A suspected porch pirate is awaiting charges after a number of people recognized his face in a video from a Gig Harbor homeowner’s security camera.

The 34-year-old man is in jail in Kent in an unrelated case, said Gig Harbor Police Det. Trey Federici.

Police had asked the public’s help identifying the suspect after a homeowner’s video camera caught a man stealing boxes from a front porch in the 10800 block of Echo Rock Place.

Police posted the video on Facebook. It showed a man in his late 20s or early 30s stealing three mail items, two boxes, and an envelope from the front porch. One of the boxes contained books. The video showed the man driving away in what appeared to be a red Mustang, tossing one of the empty boxes out the window.

Federici said several people, including another Gig Harbor detective, recognized the man in the photo, whom he described as “well-known to police.” He described the man as “transient,” but familiar with the Gig Harbor area.

The Gateway is not naming the man because he has not yet been charged..

“One of our other detectives recognized him, having dealt with him on a vehicle pursuit not too long ago,” Federici said. “It led to a chase that led to a canine bite, I believe.”

Jailed in Kent

Two days after the porch theft, the suspect was arrested in Kent on unrelated charges. He is being held there in lieu of $2,000 bail.

“He is in custody at Kent city,” Federici said. “I have a hold placed on him so when he is wrapped up with his charges in Kent, he will be turned over to me and booked on his Gig Harbor charges.”

Federici said detectives are now looking at the man as a suspect in several other porch robberies.

The suspect faces three charges in Gig Harbor: third-degree theft, criminal trespass, driving with a suspended license, and driving without ignition interlock as required.

Federici said the man is well known at the police station and has an extensive criminal background. He doesn’t live in Gig Harbor, although he knows the area, he said.

“He lives a transient lifestyle, but is familiar to the area,” Federici said. Typically, the detective said, the man couch surfs, moving from house to house as he wears out his welcome. The car used in the porch theft was apparently “borrowed” from a person he was staying with, Federici said.

Porch piracy on rise

Since the boom in online ordering began several years ago, theft of delivered packages has become an increasing problem. One national survey found that 36 percent of households had lost a package in the previous year. Another study put the figure as high as 40 percent.

If ordering online, Federici said, the best way to keep your package safe is to track it on an electronic device.

“Tracking is a pretty necessary thing these days. You get automatic updates from text messages, emails, even photographs,” he said.

Once the package arrives, immediately bring it inside.

“If you not home, maybe have a trusted neighbor you can call that can secure your package,” Federici said.

Amazon, Federal Express and UPS have also begun establishing public lock-boxes at convenience stores and gas stations, where people can have packages delivered.

▪ Amazon has lockers at the Safeway at 4831 Point Fosdick Dr., at Albertsons, 11330 51st Ave. NW, and at Bartell Drugs, 5500 Olympic Dr.

▪ UPS packages can be received at UPS Stores at 11010 Harbor Hill Dr. or 4810 Point Fosdick Dr.

▪ FedEx packages can be received at Gig Harbor Copy & Mail, 3110 Judson St.

▪ Another Gig Harbor business, Mail Plus Copies, 5500 Olympic Dr. Ste H105, will receive packages from all delivery services or the US Postal Service for a small fee.

This story was originally published February 17, 2020 at 11:48 AM.