TITUSVILLE, Fla. – Four juveniles were arrested Friday in connection with several Titusville porch thefts, according to the Titusville Police Department.
According to police, surveillance footage and eyewitnesses linked the four teenagers with the Christmas presents that were reported stolen Tuesday afternoon.
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News 6 partner Florida Today reported that the four teenagers, ranging from 15 to 17 years old, were all charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, dealing in stolen property and theft.
Detectives were able to recover the stolen packages and return them to their owners.
The arrests were only four of the six to take place this week in Titusville. On Wednesday, a couple was spotted by a home surveillance system taking a package from a home near Grannis Street.
Shortly after, police found Alexandria Barnette, 34, and Michael Beddia, 35, trying to sell the $100 worth of stolen clothing at Blanton Park for $50, according to arrest reports.
Both were arrested and charged with burglary.
The Titusville porch thefts aren't the first incidents involving "porch pirates" in Brevard County this holiday season. A West Melbourne man was arrested in late November after also being spotted on a surveillance camera.
Porch pirates target packages left on doorsteps as online orders are seen as vulnerable by opportunistic thieves.
Protect yourself
Police advise residents to take a few precautionary steps to protect themselves from crimes of opportunity around the holidays:
- Lock car doors
- Never leave valuables visibly inside a parked car
- Have packages delivered to a neighbor/work
- Pick packages directly up from post office