Carlos Mejia, a homeowner in Queens, New York, caught a porch pirate in the act and confronted him with a baseball bat. Mejia had set up a decoy package to trap the thief, who was caught on security camera footage stealing the box. Mejia chased after the thief with a bat, eventually forcing him to drop to his knees and surrender. The thief, identified as Victor Stazzone, claimed he was only trying to prevent someone else from stealing the package. Mejia has been using TikTok to raise awareness about porch pirates and has uploaded several videos showing thieves stealing packages from his home.
The issue of porch piracy is a widespread problem that affects online shoppers across the country. In New York City alone, an estimated 90,000 packages are lost or stolen each day, according to the NYC Department of Transportation. A study by the Chamber of Commerce found that 26% of consumers have had a package stolen, with the average value of a stolen package being $81.91. Nearly half of porch pirate incidents occur at single-unit residential homes, while 42% of victims live in apartments or condos. Despite the prevalence of doorbell cameras, which 22% of victims had, 38% believe that the cameras do not deter thieves, and 25% were never reimbursed for their stolen items.
Mejia’s video of confronting the porch pirate went viral on TikTok, with Mejia using the platform to call attention to the issue of package theft. The security footage shows the thief casually walking up to Mejia’s porch, grabbing the decoy package, and putting it in his backpack. Mejia’s swift action in catching the thief and holding him accountable serves as a powerful example for others involved in similar criminal activities. The suspect, Victor Stazzone, was identified as a 36-year-old man who had allegedly been caught in another video committing the same crime.
This incident highlights the frustration and anger felt by victims of porch piracy, as well as the lack of effective deterrents to prevent such thefts. Mejia’s actions in confronting the thief with a baseball bat demonstrate the lengths to which some homeowners are willing to go to protect their property. The prevalence of package theft, both in New York City and across the country, underscores the need for increased awareness and preventative measures to address this issue. As online shopping continues to grow in popularity, it is essential for consumers to take steps to protect their deliveries and hold accountable those who engage in criminal activities like porch piracy.
