Kingston Police seek assistance to identify three suspects in package theft

Kingston Police have released the above images and are asking for help to identify three individuals, one of whom took a parcel from a porch on Wellington Street earlier this week.

At approximately 2:57 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, the theft occurred from the porch of a private residence on Wellington Street in downtown Kingston.

According to a release from Kingston Police, security video captured three individuals walking in the area at the time of the theft and as they passed the victim’s residence one of the suspects was seen walking up to the porch and removing a boxed parcel.

Police provided limited descriptions of the suspects:

• One of the suspects was wearing white Adidas running shoes with the signature three black stripes on the side.
• The suspect who actually removed the parcel appeared to have dyed blond hair with dark roots visible.
• The third suspect was wearing a dark jacket with a yellow hoodie underneath.

Anyone with information in regards to the possible identities of these suspects, is asked to please contact Constable Rick Poirier at 613-549-4660 ext. 6268 or via email at [email protected].

Tips can be provided anonymously by calling the Kingston Police general number, 613-549-4660 ext. 0, and asking to remain anonymous.

The term “porch pirates” may seem like something from a Captain Hook movie, police said, but it refers to the increasingly prevalent offence of residential porch thefts.

“These types of thefts are on the rise not only in Kingston but across Canada, especially as we approach the holiday season,” Kingston Police said. “There are multiple ways to deter porch pirates from separating you from your delivered parcels.”

Police provided this list of porch pirate deterrents:

• The simplest way to avoid porch pirates is to use tracking information to quickly retrieve your package once it’s delivered. If you’re not able to be home during the delivery, you can also have someone else, such as a neighbour, keeping an eye open for the package to be delivered to your doorstep that day.
• Consider installing a security camera near your front door or at the front of your residence. This is the best way to catch a package thief, as you have evidence and visual information about the thief that you can provide to police, should your parcel be stolen. Many thieves commit crimes of opportunity. If they see a package sitting on your porch, they might be tempted to try to snatch it. However, if they see that your home is equipped with a security system, they may think twice about attempting to follow through with the theft.
• Smart doorbells with built-in security cameras, such as a Ring doorbell, can capture porch pirates in the act, often with clear enough video quality to identify the perpetrator. These doorbells are positioned in a place where you can see anyone who approaches your front doorway from the convenience of your mobile device. Many smart doorbells also allow for two-way communication with whoever has arrived unannounced at your front door. In this case, you can advise the would-be thieves that the police are being contacted, which may prompt the perpetrator to leave your property empty handed.
• It also may be possible to add delivery instructions when you are placing an order for delivery. When you are completing your payment and filling in your shipping information, look to see if there is a place to leave “delivery instructions.” This way, you can ask that the package be left by a side door or in a spot that is not visible or is at least more camouflaged from the road.
• Finally, if you aren’t going to be home when a package is delivered, you can ask a trusted neighbour if you can have it sent to their residence instead. You can also ask the neighbour to grab a package that’s already been delivered and hold onto it until you return. Another idea may be to simply have your parcel delivered to your workplace if this practice is allowable.