MANCHESTER, TN (WGNS) – The Arctic blast may have frozen roads and slowed traffic, but it hasn’t put a dent in porch piracy. In fact, with more people ordering online to avoid icy conditions, package thefts may have ticked up. And as law enforcement likes to remind the public, porch pirates don’t stop at city limits or county lines. If there’s a box on a porch, someone out there is willing to take a chance.

What these thieves often forget is how dramatically home surveillance has changed. Not long ago, only banks and big-box stores had high-resolution cameras capable of capturing clear images. Today, doorbells with crisp digital video monitor front porches around the clock, triggered by even slight motion. That’s exactly what happened in neighboring Coffee County.

Manchester Police are investigating a series of package thefts in the area around Westwood Middle School. A doorbell camera captured an individual taking Amazon packages from multiple homes, and investigators believe the suspect may have been driving a dark-colored, midsize SUV. The images are clear enough that officers hope someone will recognize the person.

Anyone with information that could help identify the suspect is asked to contact Manchester Police Captain Trey Adcock at 931-728-2099 or by email at tadcock@cityofmanchestertn.gov.

Because these crimes don’t respect boundaries, residents across Middle Tennessee are encouraged to review their own doorbell footage. A face seen in Manchester today could just as easily appear on a porch in Rutherford County tomorrow. A quick look at your camera could be the key to stopping a thief who’s been making the rounds.

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