In a strategic move similar to a Santa-themed sting operation, Tempe Police are deploying bait packages to catch unsuspecting porch thieves, a part of their "Operation Secret Santa" that stretches across the city, aiming to protect residents from holiday gift thefts. Using technology to track down the culprits, packages left on volunteers' porches are equipped with tracking devices, as reported by KTAR News.
Addressing this pressing issue, which spikes during the festive season, Officer Cody Conklin of the Tempe Police detailed the strategy and its implementation, "So what we do is we put packages with tracking devices in them across the city of Tempe's front doors," he said, and with residents offering up their homes as a kind of present-laden lure, the police have set the stage for a cat-and-mouse game with high stakes during a time meant for joy, not disenchantment. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the program launched on November 18 and will run until the year's end, casting a wide net over the holiday season.
The operation recently resulted in the arrest of Roman Lopez, a 28-year-old suspect who allegedly walked into this festive trap, his actions leading the police right to his backpack, which held the stolen booty. Officer Conklin utilized the signal from the tracking device to home in on the suspect at Hardy and Baseline, "I used the device we had, which emitted a kind of sound, a frequency. I heard it," Conklin told FOX 10 Phoenix.
As the effort to combat porch piracy continues, technology such as Ring cameras is being used to strengthen sting operations. Conklin cross-referenced the tracking data with Ring camera footage from the scene of the theft to confirm the identity of the suspect. Officer Conklin, discussing the broader impact of these thefts on the community, stated "It might seem little to these thieves, but it means a lot and a great deal to the citizens of Tempe that they can trust that when they get home they are going to have their packages there," as FOX 10 Phoenix reported.
Conklin further sent out a clear message to anyone considering stealing parcels in the run-up to Christmas, "We are not going to play around," he said. "We are going to take this seriously, and we are going to use all means to attack it," as noted by FOX 10 Phoenix.
