Bristol residents worry about package thieves

BRISTOL, Conn. (WTNH)-- Police say packages left at front doors were easy pickings for the two people that were arrested with the stuff, likely destined to be gifts.

"They very well could have been following one of these delivery trucks around, waiting for them to drop off a package. That's a possibility, " said Lt. Don Watson from the Bristol police department.

Thieves usually are swiping packages from doorsteps during the day, when folks are at work. This is unnerving to residents getting holiday gifts sent to their homes.

"There is a little bit of worry because people are up and down the street. It's a popular street to walk on, a lot of people walk in the area, but we have some very vigilante neighbors," said Cheryl Thibeault of Bristol.

It turns out an alert neighbor noticed a suspicious vehicle slowly circling Bristol streets. Officers ended up seizing nearly $3,000 worth of stolen goods in the truck,  including electronics, gaming systems and toys.

The suspects were nabbed in Bristol with the goods, but now police are looking into whether they were casing neighborhoods in other Connecticut communities.

"It does certainly appear that they were working in other towns," said Lt. Watson.

The stolen packages still had names and addresses, so police are trying to now "deliver" them.

The best way to protect deliveries made to your doors is tracking them and knowing when they are arriving, possibly asking a neighbor to hold it until you are home.