Alleged 'porch pirate' arrested in Apple Valley
Deputies arrested an alleged package thief, colloquially known as a "porch pirate," after they say he snatched a parcel from the doorstep of an Apple Valley home this week.
A man called the sheriff's department around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to report that a package had just been stolen from his porch in the 22800 block of Powhatan Road, authorities said.
An investigation soon identified a suspect, officials said.
Alexander Strilio, 32, of Apple Valley, was arrested shortly after 10 p.m. at his home in the 22300 block of Highway 18, less than a mile from the scene of the the theft, according to county booking records.
"Strilio was contacted at his residence and was found with the stolen property, which was returned to the victim," sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
The suspect was booked on suspicion of petty theft and released with a citation pending legal proceedings.
Here are a few tips from Amazon on how to protect yourself from porch pirates:
Track your package in real time.
Select a designated delivery day.
Ship to an alternate delivery location.
Share tracking details with friends and family.
Check if the carrier provides proof of package arrival with a photo.
Leverage Ring for package alerts.
Check if there’s a delivery window.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Suspected 'porch pirate' arrested in Apple Valley
