Package Theft Sting Operation Nabs Another In Ocean Acres: Police

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — An undercover package theft sting operation has resulted in a Bronx man being charged, the Stafford Township Police Department said.

The latest arrest is one of several done by Stafford police in the past several months as they investigate package thefts, which police say are occurring locally, statewide and beyond. Back in May, three New Yorkers were charged in a similar sting operation.

In these package thefts, fraudulently obtained tracking numbers are sold to criminals who then head to the residences intended for the deliveries to steal the packages, police said. They mostly target packages containing iPhones, police said, and all of the thefts in Stafford have come from FedEx deliveries.

"It is not uncommon to have numerous different theft crews, unbeknownst to each other, lingering in the area waiting for the delivery notification of the same package and racing to be the first one there," police said.

In the latest case, undercover officers were watching at about 4 p.m. on July 16 as a black Honda Accord with a Pennsylvania registration approached a residence in Ocean Acres, police said.

A man, later identified as 30 year-old Argeny Friasvasquez of Bronx, New York, left the car and tried to swipe a package of numerous iPhones, which had just been delivered, off the home's porch, police said.

He was unsuccessful, as police immediately took Friasvasquez into custody where he was charged with theft and released pending a court appearance, police said. His vehicle was seized as well, according to police.