Preventing stolen gifts from front door

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Police say scrooge has been out on the patrol grabbing Christmas gifts before they make it into your home and underneath your tree. It's happened in New Haven, Hartford, and now Bristol.

Kevin Pinette and Maryann Lamper were arrested. Thousands of dollars worth of electronics and children's toys were taken right off the door steps still wrapped in the shipping box.

People say that people in those neighborhoods have been left unnerved.

"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 vigilant neighbors," Cheryl Thibeault of Bristol said.

It's also been happening in West Hartford. Police say they're hoping to make residence aware of it so they can protect themselves and their Christmas packages.

"Most people are law abiding citizens so they're not thinking about and what are the types of crimes that can happen to me on a daily basis. They figure by leaving a package out, they'll come home and they'll grab it and unfortunately that isn't always the case," Sgt. Michael Perruccio of the West Hartford Police said.

Police say all the thieves are doing in many cases are just following the UPS, Fed Ex or another carrier and as the driver makes the deliveries, they pick them up off the front door step. It's as easy as it gets.

"It doesn't really get much simpler than that. The trucks are very easily distinguishable so it is easy for people to follow and watch for that to happen but it takes a little bit of guts though in the middle of the day to go up on someone's front porch and grab a package, but people are doing it," Sgt. Perruccio said.

News 8 has your back and some helpful suggestions:

-Ask for a signature
-Have a neighbor sign for it
-Use a tracking number
-Try to schedule drop off