Package Thief Targets Strongsville In December

STRONGSVILLE, OH — 'Tis the season for holiday cheer, good tidings to all, and...package theft. With tons of gifts delivered to doorsteps each day in December, it's prime hunting season for porch pirates.

Strongsville Police are looking for one such thief. The department released images of a man suspected of stealing parcels from several homes over the past week.

Anyone with information on the person in the photograph, or on the thefts, should contact Detective Doug Stroud at 440-580-3241. If residents see a suspicious vehicle, or someone directly stealing packages, they should contact police. If possible, get the license plate and a vehicle description.

While this suspect is on the prowl, police have offered several tips to keep packages safe.

"If you see packages outside of your neighbor’s house, send them a quick text or call to alert them to the fact there are packages waiting for them," Strongsville Police said on Facebook.

Police departments from across Ohio grapple with increased instances of package theft during December. To help counteract the tactics of thieves, those departments offered six tips for protecting delivered parcels.

• Leave special instruction on where to deliver a package, particularly for someplace out-of-sight (Cleveland Heights Police)
• Require a signature for package delivery (Lima Police)
• Consider shipping packages to your office or place of work; or make use of the pick-up option (University Heights Police); or consider having the package sent to a friend or relative (Cleveland Heights Police)
• If you see a package get delivered to your neighbor's porch, contact them and ask if you should hold it until they can pick it up (University Heights Police)
• Install a security camera on the front door, if you can afford it (Cincinnati Police)
• Track your packages whenever possible and sign-up for delivery alerts (Dublin Police); that way you'll know when your package has been left at your home

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Photos from Strongsville Police