Police: Man Caught on Camera Stealing Package from Columbia Doorstep

A Columbia resident caught a possible burglar on camera as the man casually pulled into the resident's driveway and loaded a package from the doorstep into his car, according to police.

Dan Dorn, the resident, said it took the man only about 60 seconds to take the package, which had arrived about 12 minutes earlier, according to WJLA.

Howard County police are now investigating the incident. A police spokesperson said police have not received any other reports of packages stolen from doorsteps this holiday season.

In the incident, which police said occurred in the 6200 block of Tamar Drive, packages had been left by UPS at about 2:40 p.m. on Nov. 28.

Police said moments later, a security video showed a green Subaru station wagon had pulled in the driveway and a white man with short hair, wearing shorts and a hooded sweatshirt, left his car and took the packages from the front door of the home.

The man then drove away, police said.

Last year, a similar incident occurred just before Christmas when police said a woman pulled into an Ellicott City driveway and stole a package from a doorstep about an hour and a half after a delivery company dropped it off.

Police are reminding residents receiving packages this holiday season to keep in mind the following:

• Track shipments, and try to be home when they are scheduled to arrive. 
• If you won’t be home, have the shipment delivered to your work. 
• If you won’t be home, ask the delivery company to leave the package in a discreet location, such as a back door.
• Ask a neighbor to take the package inside until you get home. 
• Be aware of suspicious people and vehicles. Delivery drivers are asked to be aware of vehicles following them. 
• If you notice suspicious behavior, call 911 immediately. Make note of any vehicle’s make, model, tag, number and direction of travel.

If you think a package has been stolen:

• Check the back or side door to see if the delivery was left at another location. 
• Check with neighbors to see if the package was delivered to the wrong address.
• Call the delivery company to confirm it was delivered.
• Report the incident to police by calling 410-313-2200. 

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