Teen Arrested For Theft Of Package At Pinellas Park Home: Police

PINELLAS PARK, FL — Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy for allegedly stealing a package from the front porch of a Pinellas Park home about 2 p.m. on Dec. 11. The boy has been charged with burglary dwelling and grand theft, police said.

Officers were able to identify the boy based on tips they received. The boy was located and taken into custody Tuesday morning. The package contained a laptop computer which was recovered from his residence. The teen was walking in the neighborhood and saw the package at the front door of the residence, police said.

Police say the suspect can be seen on a surveillance video discreetly walking up to the front door of the home at 7890 52nd Way N. and swiping the package before walking off.

The theft of home deliveries by so-called "porch pirates" is especially rampant during the holiday season, according to local law enforcement agencies.

Clearwater police are still searching for a porch pirate who stole two packages sitting outside the front door of a home near Clearwater Airpark Dec. 6. That thief was also captured on a surveillance video.

Anyone with information on this theft is asked to call the Clearwater Police Department at (727) 562-4242 or Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County at 1-800-873-8477.

Clearwater police offered the following tips to ensure you don’t become victim to a porch pirate:

*Have the packages delivered to a business or a friend’s home

* Make sure someone has to sign for them

* Track packages so you know when they are dropped off

* Pick them up or have a neighbor retrieve the package for you.

Video via Pinellas Park Police Department