LCPD press release

Las Cruces Police are asking the public to be on the lookout for at least two men known to track delivery vehicles and steal packages at their intended destinations.

Shortly before 11 a.m. on January 25, a FedEx delivery van, equipped with an on-board camera, recorded video of the suspicious vehicle as a passenger walked towards a house and stole a package that had just been delivered. The intended recipient of this package also witnessed the event.

Las Cruces Police obtained the video from FedEx and identified the suspicious vehicle as a gray Hyundai Sonata. The registered owner of the vehicle has also been identified. The owner told police he frequently loaned the car to friends and acquaintances. Police are asking the public for help in identifying the driver of the gray Hyundai and the passenger who was seen stealing a package in the 1300 block of Burley Ct. Police believe the couple are responsible for other similar thefts .

Anyone with information on their identity is asked to call the police at (575) 526-0795. The Las Cruces Police Department is actively carrying out an undercover operation to combat porch hacking. The operation has already resulted in an arrest.

The Las Cruces Police Department suggest following these tips to help prevent porch hacking:

• Track deliveries online and try to be home when packages are delivered.
• Require a signature for all home delivered packages.
• When you schedule a delivery, leave instructions on where the package can be delivered.
• Request an electronic notification when the delivery is made.
• Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to receive your package upon delivery.
• If possible, have the package delivered to your workplace or to a location where you know it can be safely received.
• Schedule online purchases from big box retailers to be delivered to their local store where you can arrange curbside pickup.
• Have the package delivered to a FedEx or UPS store where it can be held for pickup.
• Consider installing a motion-sensing home security system, such as a Ring or Nest, that records video and sends immediate notification of activity to your smartphone.
• Be a good neighbor, watch for suspicious activity, and call the police if seen.

Consumers may also consider purchasing insurance for the contents of packages when delivery is scheduled. Insuring the items does not prevent them from being stolen, but helps obtain restitution if items go missing.