Man charged with stealing packages off porches in multiple Pittsburgh-area counties
A man is in jail after allegedly stealing items off the porches of homes from Allegheny County all the way to Indiana County. According to police, he then tried to sell the stolen items.
State police said they caught up with 34-year-old John Manning at a Sheetz in Indiana and took him into custody. They said he confessed to the thefts.
The criminal complaint says in mid-February, Manning allegedly stole six packages from a house in Greensburg and was seen by the homeowner but got away. Over the next few days, there came reports from houses on the same street in Fox Chapel for packages being taken, then Blairsville. By this point, officers suspected Manning and eventually arrested him in Indiana.
Court papers say Manning told them he would steal the packages and sell their contents on Facebook Marketplace. During the confession, they learned of his thefts at other stores and car parts from a house in Homer City.
Investigators went through Manning's house in Shelocta, Indiana County and said they found most of what was stolen, except for a few items that had already been sold, as well as drugs. The state attorney general's office is now handling the case.
Manning is currently in the Indiana County Jail. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 11.
How to protect yourself against porch pirates
Caitlin Driscoll, the public relations director for the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania, says these thefts are crimes of opportunity all year.
"Anybody, any business should really take precautions any time of the year when placing an order for delivery," Driscoll said.
It's recommended that you always keep the tracking numbers of your deliveries "so that you are able to consistently monitor and know exactly when something is being delivered and even where it's been delivered," Driscoll said.
The BBB suggests using your credit card for any online purchases.
"So you can request a chargeback or file a dispute with your credit card company. Definitely notify the particular retailer of an item not being delivered," Driscoll said over Zoom.
The Better Business Bureau says if you're expecting a package, try to schedule the delivery for when you'll be home. If you're gone for a while, ask your neighbors if they could hold on to your packages.
Using a security camera can help deter porch pirates, the BBB says, and even if you're targeted, the video may help investigators. Experts also recommend requiring a signature on packages and opting in to shipping notifications.
If porch pirates are often in your area, the BBB says the benefits of renting a post office box to receive package deliveries may outweigh the costs.