Jeep Full Of Stolen Packages, Mail Stopped In Annapolis: Police

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Police have charged an Annapolis man with stealing four packages and about 30 pieces of mail Wednesday from around Anne Arundel County after reportedly finding a wealth of mail and missing packages in his Jeep. Shortly before noon an Anne Arundel County Police saw the suspect take packages from mailboxes in the 800 block of Coachway in Annapolis.

The officer stopped a white Jeep being driven by Logan Bruce Brunner, 20, of the 600 block of Maid Marion Road in Annapolis, and saw a large amount of mail and packages in the passenger area of the SUV. The packages appeared to have been stolen from different areas of the county, authorities say.

The packages were recovered and Brunner was charged with 10 counts of theft less than $100, one count of theft: $100 to under $1,500, and a traffic citation.

Police say Brunner also had an Arundel County street sign for Pleasant Plains Road in his SUV.

Ten victims reported packages were taken from Meadow Gate Drive, Beachfield Road, and Meadow Hill Drive in Annapolis, police tell Patch, while 18 letters were taken from Martins Cove Road, six letters from Coachway, four letters from Meadow Hill Drive, one letter from High Ridge Road, and one letter from Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard.

Front-porch shopping, as police call it, escalates during the holiday season, and authorities have these tips to keep your packages safe after you shop online.

• If possible, have your package delivered to a location where it can be received by a trusted person.
• Request that the shipper holds the package at their facility for pickup.
• Track deliveries online and confirm delivery has occurred.
• Insure valuable items.
• Provide delivery instructions so packages are left out of sight from the street.
• Watch out for vehicles following delivery vans through neighborhoods. Some thieves will simply shadow deliver drivers and go from house to house stealing newly delivered packages.
• When sending packages, take them to a post office or other shipping facility rather than leaving them outside your home for pickup. Let the person you are sending the package to know to expect the package.
• Show off your home security system; make sure you have a sign in the front yard. If you have security cameras, make sure potential thieves know they're there, and if you have a doorbell camera, use it.
• Sign up for email notifications from FedEx, UPS and businesses like Amazon and Urban Outfitters to track your package from initial shipment to its arrival at your home or the recipient's address if you have the gift delivered directly.

Photo of Logan Brunner, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police