Chattanooga Woman Catches Porch Pirate in the Act

Resident captures theft of hundreds of dollars worth of items on video

In a brazen act caught on camera, a Chattanooga resident’s packages were stolen from her porch last week, making her become the latest victim to a rife pandemic of porch piracy. The theft, worth hundreds of dollars, was recorded on a Ring camera mounted at her home on Sinclair Avenue.

$400 Worth of Items Stolen

Ariana Smith, the victim of the theft, recalls the incident with a sense of frustration and violation. The video footage shows an unidentified individual swiftly carry away Smith’s packages, load them into a white suburban, and drive away. “It’s upsetting that I can’t safely order something to my house,” she states.

This was not the first time Smith’s property had been targeted. A similar event had occurred earlier in the year. The recurring nature of these incidents has prompted her to consider relocating to a different neighborhood in hopes of avoiding future theft.

A Growing, Nationwide Concern

However, as Michelle Mason of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) points out, changing residences might not be the solution. “Porch piracy is a problem extending beyond specific neighborhoods, it’s occurring throughout the community and across the U.S.”, she says. A study by Security.org validates Mason’s statement, revealing that 79% of consumers experienced package theft in 2023.

“Thieves are becoming increasingly daring, undeterred by the fact that many people now have Ring video doorbells or similar surveillance devices,” Mason continues. “They proceed to steal packages knowing fully well that they are being recorded.”

Protective Measures Against Porch Piracy

The BBB suggests several preventive measures, including checking with neighbors, having packages shipped to a store, and using package receiving services. Despite the awareness and solutions available, Package theft remains a problem, with thieves becoming ever more audacious in their acts.

Police Launch Investigation

After Smith’s disturbing footage was made public, Chattanooga Police have launched an investigation into this incident. As per reports from HERE News Network, authorities are currently pursuing leads to track down the porch pirate. Until then, citizens are urged to remain vigilant and embrace preventive measures to protect their properties.