In a brash display of thievery, two cunning crooks in a U-Haul laid siege to a northwest-side neighborhood, plundering packages from porches with alarming impunity. Caught on camera outside a home on Copper Cave by Babcock Road, a man employed the rented vehicle in broad daylight to commit his crime. Alfonso Smith, the homeowner and Navy veteran, became one of the latest victims of these porch pirates when his wife's delivery of sunflower seeds was swiped from their doorstep. A surveillance video meticulously documented the heist, as Smith later explained to KENS 5, "He got the package, waved at us through the camera like he was having fun with it."
Smith's frustration was palpable as he recounted the audacious act, noting the suspect's nonchalant escape, lurking through the neighborhood in search of more plunder. The loot, comprising merely sunflower seeds, cost less than the $19.95 U-Haul rental, leading Smith to muse over the brazenness of the act more than the material loss itself. As obtained by KENS 5, Smith can't get over "somebody had the audacity to come into my yard and take a package."
In a troubling development hinting at a string of crimes, Smith noticed other packages in the bed of the pickup truck during the theft from his residence, suggesting the pirates had raided multiple homes. Residents are on high alert, as a neighbor's surveillance captured a similar crime the previous week, involving what appeared to be an accomplice to the same U-Haul pickup truck. Smith warned the brazen thieves that they might someday confront a homeowner who is less than forgiving. He shared his concerns with KENS 5, "They are going to mess around and meet a family that’s home … and [that family] might not be nice about it."
U-Haul International is involved in the investigation, although hindered by the lack of a license plate or ID number from the footage. Jeff Lockridge, the company's media relations manager, outlined their position in a statement expressing regret over any misuse of their services. As reported by KENS5, Lockridge affirmed, "Customers using our equipment are expected to adhere to all local, state, and federal laws. Any violation of these laws constitutes a breach of the customer contract and our policies."
