A recent report by The Wall Street Journal has highlighted a troubling trend of “porch piracy” across numerous U.S. locations, where thieves are specifically targeting Federal Express packages containing AT&T iPhones. These thefts typically occur within a very short window of time after the packages are delivered.
The success of these thieves can largely be attributed to their prior knowledge of precise tracking information. Notably, AT&T packages, which do not require a signature upon delivery, have become a particular favorite among these criminals.
Reports indicate that states from New York to Texas have experienced similar theft incidents. The modus operandi of these crimes is strikingly consistent: a FedEx driver delivers a package containing an iPhone to a customer’s doorstep, and a thief quickly appears to snatch the package away. Some thieves have even disguised themselves in Amazon delivery vests, allowing them to blend in seamlessly and commit the thefts without alerting the delivery drivers.
Detective Lieutenant Matt Arsenault of the Gardner Police Department in Massachusetts noted that these thieves are well-informed about the incoming deliveries and addresses, often appearing at the front door just as the delivery driver arrives. This timing allows them to seize the packages with remarkable ease.
As employees gradually return to the office, the number of people home to receive deliveries during the day has dwindled, resulting in a noticeable spike in porch piracy incidents. This series of thefts, particularly targeting iPhone packages shipped via FedEx for AT&T, has been escalating for several months now.
