Everett Police Start Holiday Porch And Parking Patrols

Word in from police here in Everett, Washington on their plans to stop holiday theft.

During the Holidays, criminals increase their nefarious activities of stealing packages from porches (Porch Pirates) and stealing property during vehicle prowls. To address this activity, Everett Police has committed additional resources to these issues. Along with an educational campaign, detectives with Property Crimes have enlisted the aid of the Crime Prevention Unit, Pro-Act Unit, Bicycle Unit, and Crime Analysis to put our “Package Theft Operation” and vehicle prowl operation into action.

The “Package Theft Operation” aims to arrest criminals stealing packages off porches. We know package theft is a problem based on criminal reports, community complaints and working with local delivery companies. With the growing ease of online shopping, more and more community members delivered items stolen from their porch. Detectives are working with past victims to set up undercover operations with the goal of making arrests and stymieing this trend.

Our vehicle prowl operation focuses on vehicle prowlers who use the Holiday Season to target parked cars in business parking lots. With shoppers flocking to local stores, prowlers know many visit several different stores and stockpile merchandise in their car. Parking lots provide an easy opportunity to steal newly purchased items and get away without detection. Our goal is to provide high visibility patrols and undercover units to arrest prowlers.