Thieves swipe packages from doorsteps

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- 'Tis the season to buy gifts and a lot of people are buying them online and having them shipped to their house, but thieves in some communities including New Haven have been swiping packages right of peoples' doorsteps.

The UPS man pulls up, drops the box and it's supposed to sit and wait but New Have police say a thief is preying on porch packages.

"I was supposed to get two of them and one of them was missing. The big one, the 32 pound one," Ed Bonyai said.

Big is right. It was $1,400 worth of computer parts. Luckily, it's insured but others in East Rock lost Christmas gifts.

"I'm getting packages everyday so I don't know if somebody is watching the house or what happened," Bonyai said.

The same thing happened over in Fair Haven Heights. Police say a good samaritan chased the suspect down for 6 blocks, all while on the phone with police until the grinch got caught.

"We're certainly appreciative. He chased him right into the arms one of our officers which is good and the manner in which he stayed in communication with our dispatcher while he was doing it let us know where he was headed," Office David Hartman said.

The scrooge is 42-year-old Jose Flores.

Police say while you score the perfect gift online, thieves are ready to pick it up. That's why they urge folks to track shipments.

"If you know when that package is going to be delivered and you know you're not going to be home, call the carrier, find out if they might be able to hold the package until such time you are home. If not, see if there's a neighbor that you trust who can bring that package in," Hartman said.

They don't encourage folks to chase down criminals but Bonyai has some encouraging words for the man who did.

"Good work, keep up the good work. Why don't you come down here," Bonyai said laughing.

Now police patrol East Rock keeping a lookout for any sticky fingers.