A THIEF left an annoying “thank you note” after stealing a package from a homeowner’s porch.
Hilary Smith received the handwritten note – in place of her package – that was confirmed to be delivered hours before it was stolen.
The note – found on the porch of Hilary’s Minnesota, US, home – read: “So just a quick little thank you for leaving me the opportunity of stealing your package.
“Very nice of you. Thank you.”
The unknown bandit signed the letter: “The new owner of your package.”
Hillary had received a text notification that her package was delivered at noon on Wednesday – but when she arrived home after 5pm, her package was nowhere to be found, the Pioneer Press Newspaper reported.
The stolen package was a portable charger intended to be a small Christmas gift for her boss.
The Saint Paul Police Department shared a photo of the note to Facebook on Friday, with the caption: “Porch pirates are the scourge of the holiday season, creeping around neighborhoods at all hours of the day, tip-toeing up to homes, stealing packages that don’t belong to them.
“And now they’re leaving … … … thank you notes?”
Hilary told CBS Minnesota: “It’s brazen and arrogant.”
“Just making sure we raise awareness that this is really happening, and I don’t want people to have their holiday season wrecked to have something big stolen from them.”
To reduce package theft, Saint Paul Police recommends residents require a signature for delivery.
They also suggest having packages mailed to either a trusted neighbor, work address, or a neighborhood store.
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Other ways to protect package deliveries include using an Amazon Hub Locker to receive Amazon packages at a secure location, customizing delivery times – with notification alerts – through UPS My Choice, and having UPS hold packages for pickup – which is free of charge and allows items to be held up to five days.
Anyone who suspects they’ve had a package stolen should file a police report and a missing package claim with the delivery company or retailer.