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A sneaky porch pirate - possibly pirates - who targeted electronics during a short spree in Stafford County are at large following a string of reported incidents, but not before one would-be victim pulled a fast one on the robbers, according to the sheriff's office.
Shortly before 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, a deputy was called to Daffodil Lane when a homeowner reported that FedEx had dropped off his brand new phone, though it was taken by an unknown man before he was able to pick it up.
Later on Wednesday, a second FedEx package was intercepted, this time on from a residence on Palace Lane, with the suspect making off with earbuds.
It is believed that the first two packages were taken by the same person, who was described as a White man in his 20s with a reddish-brown beard and wearing all black before fleeing in an early 2000s Honda Accord with "loud exhaust."
The third reported "porch pirating" incident took a different turn; however, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office.
A third deputy responded to Marianne Place later on the same day, though this time, the would-be porch pirate was outsmarted by a quick-thinking homeowner.
Investigators say that the resident had multiple phones delivered to his home, and was able to quickly collect the package once it arrived, prompting a call from someone posing as a UPS employee who had ill intentions.
Joke was on the caller.
The "untruthful UPS employee" told the homeowner that there were software issues with the phones, and that the man should put the packages back on the porch to be picked up and replaced.
The victim did not fall for it. Then flipped the switch on the schemer.
According to a spokesperson from the sheriff's office, the person swapped out the phones with a few jars of water, then placed the boxes back on the porch to be picked up by the "UPS driver," who fled in a gray Toyota Corolla with dark tinted windows and no front license place.
It is unclear if the incidents are connected.
"Incidents like these are not new and deputies continue their investigations into the matter," the spokesperson stated. "We encourage residents who are expecting a high in value item to be delivered to be present for the delivery to ensure it is properly removed from the porch.
"We also encourage residents who receive a call like in the third incident to not comply.
"This is a scam."
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