Northern Ontario porch pirate steals grocery delivery from family in quarantine
In the age of doorstep deliveries, porch pirates who steal items from front doors have become common, but one North Bay mom says she was scared by a recent encounter with one.
It happened in the West Ferris area of North Bay around 11 a.m. Thursday, Devyn Crocker told CTV News.
Crocker and her children are quarantined at home after contracting COVID-19.
She said it was "very creepy" to find a stranger standing on her doorstep eating her strawberries when she went to retrieve her online grocery order Thursday morning.
"When I opened the door, he had zero reaction. When I told him to leave my property, he just kept mumbling gibberish," Crocker said on social media.
When he refused to leave after several requests, she said took out her phone and started recording a video of the incident "out of fear."
The video she posted captured the person mumbling something about "stolen property" before picking up a bag of groceries and walking away without a backwards glance.
With kids at home, she said the encounter was scary and is warning others to keep an eye out.
"Things seem to be getting more scary out in the world. Unbelievable," Crocker said.
The video she posted online has more than 5,200 views in less than 24 hours.
North Bay police confirm an investigation into the theft is open and anyone with information is encouraged to call police or Crime Stoppers.
"A suspect will hopefully be identified shortly," said Acting Sgt. Douglas MacIntosh.
Incidents of porch pirating are increasing slowly due to a spike in online deliveries which started during the pandemic, police said.
"A lot of commercial carriers have online accounts and you can have an option where instead of just leaving the package unattended at the front door, where it's visible, you can have it delivered to the back door or behind a gate," MacIntosh said.
By taking the opportunity for theft away, your goods will be more protected, he said.
"You can also accept the signature delivery option, so that way, the recipient is there to receive it and sign for it," Macintosh said.
Anyone who orders high-end goods such as jewelry, electronics or auto parts, for example, to consider having them shipped to the post office or at a commercial carrier and held for pickup, he recommended.
Police continue to encourage the reporting of all thefts so they can properly investigate.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Here's how much more Canadian landlords are asking for now, according to a just-released report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.