FAIRFAX, Va. — Brittany Smolka was looking forward to her $500 iPad. Instead, someone stole it from her front door right after it was delivered – by someone wearing an Amazon vest.
The incident happened on Star Opal Drive around 11 a.m. on Thursday. Smolka's surveillance video showed a FedEx driver dropping off the box. About five minutes later, a man wearing what appears to be an Amazon vest swipes it away.
“He's holding a blue bag,” she said. “He comes over. He acts as if he’s going to drop something. In the meantime, he conceals the package behind the blue bag and picks it up and pretends to take a picture and walks out of my gate.”
Fairfax County police are investigating the package theft and if the person caught on camera is in fact an Amazon employee. Amazon told WUSA9 on Wednesday evening that the man is not one of their drivers.
Sgt. Jacob Pearce of FCPD said when it comes to package thefts, these types of tactics can be common.
“A lot of times, thieves will try to use some kind of ruse to protect their identity or make it seem like their presence on somebody's property is normal, whether it's a construction vest or a uniform that might belong to a delivery company,” Pearce told WUSA9. “If they're doing one, then there's a presumption that it's probably a habit.”
Amazon spokesperson Austin Stowe said, "While the vast majority of deliveries make it to customers without issue, we recognize that, unfortunately, there are bad actors who wear Amazon-branded or look-alike apparel to commit package theft. We encourage anyone who’s been a victim of package theft to report it to the police and we’ll work with law enforcement to help as much as possible."
The company monitors the internet regularly for unauthorized Amazon apparel and demands that those items are removed. Workers who make deliveries on behalf of Amazon do not knock on doors or ask customers to sign for packages.
One day earlier, a resident on Fairmont Street posted a video to the neighborhood Nextdoor group that showed a similar crime. One of the videos captured who appeared to be the same person with Amazon attire. He could be seen stealing a package soon after it was dropped off by FedEx.
Smolka said she normally uses delivery services on a weekly basis, but this is the first time there’s been an issue.
“This is the one time I had a high value item and for whatever reason, FedEx didn't require a signature on,” Smolka added. “It made me feel very violated.”
According to its website, FedEx requires signatures on all deliveries but there are exceptions on the following conditions which include having a suitable secure location to leave your package and your signature on the delivery attempt notice.
Pearce said people should choose a delivery service that requires signatures, choose drop-off boxes or schedule the delivery if that’s an option. However, shoppers may not always get to choose who delivers their purchases.
According to Amazon, here are ways to keep their packages safe:
- Amazon’s Map Tracking feature lets customers view the progress of their delivery on the app in real time when the driver is close.
- Photo-on-Delivery gives visual delivery confirmation that a customer’s package was delivered safely.
- Prime members can select a designated day for a weekly delivery of their packages. It’s a convenient way to select when and how packages arrive at their doorsteps.
- For added safety, customers can specify in the app where at their house they’d like their package delivered.
- Amazon Lockers also offer convenient and secure package pickup at thousands of locations in the U.S., including at retail stores, convenience stores, apartment buildings, and grocery stores. To find a location nearby, customers can visit amazon.com/packagepickup.
- You can also read more on the following blog: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/operations/amazon-porch-pirate-prevention-tips