A 63-year-old Bronx resident confronted a would-be porch pirate on Sunday, March 27, after a package was snatched from his front steps and the thief flashed a knife, police say. Around 3:30 p.m., an unidentified person removed a package from the man’s front stoop, and when the resident tried to get it back, the suspect displayed a knife and ran east on Lydig Avenue. The victim was not seriously injured, and investigators have released images of the suspect in a wanted bulletin.
What the NYPD bulletin says
The NYPD Crime Stoppers bulletin describes the victim as a 63-year-old man who was approached in the vicinity of Bogart Avenue and Woodmansten Place and had a package taken from his front porch. When he tried to retrieve it, the suspect allegedly pulled a knife and took off eastbound on Lydig Avenue, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers. The alert includes still images of the suspect and urges anyone with video or identifying details to contact detectives.
How to pass tips to detectives
Anyone with information, photos or doorbell footage is asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish speakers, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), or to submit an anonymous tip online, according to NYPD. The Crime Stoppers program can offer rewards of up to $3,500 for information that leads to an arrest and indictment.
Porch thefts remain a widespread problem
Package theft is a large and growing national headache: the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General has estimated that at least 58 million packages were stolen in 2024, creating losses in the billions and hitting dense urban neighborhoods especially hard, according to the OIG report. Recent wanted bulletins and released images point to robberies and grab-and-run thefts appearing across Bronx blocks this season, a pattern echoed in coverage of a brazen 6 train robbery.
If you saw something
Neighbors who may have captured the encounter on a doorbell or security camera are urged to preserve the footage and note the exact times, then share it with investigators. Police advise residents not to approach or confront anyone they believe might be involved. If an incident is in progress or someone is in immediate danger, call 911; otherwise, submit tips to Crime Stoppers or through the department’s social channels.
Legal note
Robbery is defined under New York Penal Law Article 160 as forcible stealing, and using or displaying a weapon can increase the severity of the offense. Separate weapons offenses are set out in Article 265, which may bring additional charges, per state statute and court guidance. For the statutory language and judicial instructions, see the materials provided by the New York State Senate and the state courts on weapon possession.
NYPD detectives in the 49th Precinct continue to search for the person shown in the wanted bulletin. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or submit an anonymous tip online; the department’s wanted post was published April 8 on the NYPD Crime Stoppers Facebook page.
