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Tampa Bay area ranked 9th in country for "porch pirates"

Posted at 3:17 PM, Nov 21, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-21 18:13:57-05

New data from safewise.com shows the Tampa Bay area ranking in the top ten in the country for “porch pirates”  These are criminals who steal packages from unsuspecting homeowners doorstep.

“It happens frequently around the holidays,” said St. Pete officer Jill Harris.

The department has a list of ways to protect yourself:

  • Send the package to your workplace or to a neighbor’s home
  • Require a signature upon delivery
  • Have your Amazon order go to an Amazon locker

Katie Zupkosky knows how it feels to have packages stolen.  Earlier this month two people pulled up to her home and stole an Amazon order from her porch.

How to protect your packages from 'porch pirates' this holiday season

“I feel really violated and kind of invaded,” said Zupkosky.

She said her packages now have a new destination.

"I have everything sent now to my work, I’m not getting anything delivered here,” said Zupkosky.