Authorities in Edmond, Oklahoma, have taken a significant bite out of crime by arresting eight men connected to a national theft ring specializing in the theft of electronics, including iPhones, from residential porches. The recent sting operation, designed to reel in these so-called "porch pirates," was a collaboration between the Edmond Police Department and the Oklahoma City Police. KFOR reports that the total value of the stolen goods is nearly $7 million.
After setting up surveillance outside homes scheduled to receive deliveries, detectives intercepted the suspects. The crime ring, uncovered amidst blaring sirens and a residential bust, became the talk of the town, as one Edmond local, Cary Garrison, recounted. "It was crazy because I was sitting on the back patio watching TV with my dog, and I hear all these sirens and stuff coming," Garrison told KOCO. He described watching the chase unfold, which ended in a car pursuit and a police helicopter circling overhead.
The ringleaders of the elaborate theft scheme, identified as Danny Alberto-Herrera and Jomar Maria-Lopez by the police, are believed to be integral parts of this extensive network that stretched across the nation. The Edmond police had prepared a list of homes with scheduled deliveries on Thursday and positioned themselves to witness one of the thefts first-hand. This proactive approach led to a pursuit, serving as the catalyst for the broader takedown. "They're responsible for millions of dollars of theft across the United States," Emily Ward, an officer from Edmond PD, said in a statement obtained by KFOR.
Porch piracy, often perceived as minor, one-off crimes, can lead to staggering losses when orchestrated on a national scale. Detected through operations in Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City and Edmond, the expanding footprint of these crimes underscores the extent to which these thieves operate. Detectives were led on a brief pursuit after a suspected vehicle arrived to steal a freshly delivered phone—an almost commonplace act of thievery given the scale of their operation, as noted by OKC Fox.
