A Kelowna couple enjoying a Sunday evening on their deck got more than they bargained for when they noticed a culprit making off with their neighbour's Amazon package.
The incident unfolded downtown at 7:15 p.m. while Mindy Elias says she was selling a clothing rack to an online buyer in front of her home when she looked across the street to see a dishevelled person walking from her neighbour's yard with a large Amazon box.
When the three of them asked if the package was his, Mindy said the guy "started running."
Josh Elias said he wasn’t sure what was going on at first, but after his wife explained that she saw the person grab the Amazon package off their neighbour’s porch, he quickly flew into action.
“I'm like, 'did you take that package?' He's like walking down the sidewalk and starts walking a little faster. And then I said, judging that you won’t turn around and answer me. I'm assuming you just stole that,” Josh said.
At that point, the culprit bolted and Josh and the buyer who was picking up the clothing rack got involved.
“Then he bolts almost runs my kid over and runs down the road. And Cory, the guy who's buying the clothing rack, looks at me and says, ‘want to jump in my truck?’”
Josh says his wife started yelling and pointing in the direction the suspect ran off and the chase was on.
“I see him going down this alley, we rip around down the alley. As he sees us he drops the package and starts running.”
Josh said they managed to recover his neighbour's package and no one got hurt. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time he’s had to deal with this sort of thing in the neighbourhood of Gordon Drive and Bernard Avenue.
Here are some tips from police to help keep porch pirates off your front step and out of your neighbourhood.
- Have a well-lit front door area to deter thieves. Install a surveillance system, such as doorbell camera. A camera will often be enough to discourage some people from stealing property.
- Track packages. Follow the package's progress and be home when it’s scheduled to arrive.
- Ask couriers to require a signature upon a parcel's delivery.
- Arrange for a neighbour to accept the package if you cannot be there or consider having it delivered to your workplace, or a friend’s house you know will be available.
- Sign up for online accounts with Canada Post, or third party locations that can accept packages on your behalf.
- Report stolen packages to police.
