Santa Maria ‘porch pirate’ caught on security surveillance video

According to Package Guard, packages were stolen from about 11 million homeowners last year and 74% of those are swiped during the day while folks are at work.

“Low life people that can’t pay for their own stuff I guess,” said Brandon Frederiksen

One Santa Maria man caught his latest misfortune all on tape. Frederiksen got an email Friday night saying that several packages he was expecting had been delivered, or so he thought.

“So I went outside, didn’t see ’em and did a little investigating on my security footage around my house and somebody came up and stole them in broad daylight about five minutes after the mail guy dropped it off,” said Frederiksen.

Frederiksen’s home security cameras captured the porch pirate in action just before 10:30 a.m. that day, you can see a person sprint up to the doorway, scoop up the goods and make a run for it. Another vantage point shows the getaway car.

“I was furious it just buffalos me that people are going to go steal packages in broad daylight, five minutes after they were delivered like they were following the mail guy,” said Frederiksen

The thief made off with a baby present, refrigerator filters and some truck parts.

“What was really frustrating was we had to go out of town that Saturday early morning for our good friend’s child’s first birthday party and we had to go buy a present at like 7:00 in the morning,” said Frederiksen.

Frederiksen says he’s had hundreds of packages delivered in the past no problem and as shocking as this theft is, he’s changing his delivery preferences going forward.

“Either sign for it or make sure somebody is home or if you’re going to order something try doing to a secure place because I thought this was secure and I guess it’s not,” he said.

Frederiksen’s plans are in line with what Santa Maria Police advise. Officers say package thefts are a consistent problem and are crimes of opportunity.

Frederiksen’s case is under investigation.