'Porch Pirate' Season Comes Early In Waltham

WALTHAM, MA — Waltham police caught someone in the act of stealing a package off the porch of a local home, which gave them an opportunity to prompt residents to refresh their plans for the holiday package delivery season.

Waltham detectives "arrested a person in the act of stealing a delivered package from inside a porch in the area of Lyman Street," police said.

"This suspect was placed under arrest after a foot pursuit and the package was returned to the intended recipient."

Officials note that there is always an opportunity for thieves to steal delivered packages, but that the frequency ramps up once people begin their holiday shopping.

Shipping package delivery spikes during the holiday season, and the U.S. Postal Service has already announced it will hire an additional 7,500 seasonal staffers for the season.

Theft became a big enough issue in the past 10 years that, in 2018, the state published a blog post with recommendations for residents. Find that post here.