A residential theft in the Lake Highlands area underscores the rise in porch piracy across North Texas. Neighbors reported that the suspects acted quickly, removing large items from the property in under 20 seconds.
Carlos Tapia, vice president of the neighborhood patrol unit who lives across the street, said the speed and coordination of the theft suggest it was not an isolated incident. Surveillance footage from a nearby home appears to show the same individual stealing packages from another porch while a van waited nearby.
Similar incidents have been captured on home surveillance systems throughout the region, including a recent case in Fort Worth where doorbell video showed a package being stolen before the delivery driver had left the property.
As the holiday season approaches, theft activity often increases. Matt Sailor, CEO of IC Realtime, noted that seasonal delivery surges combined with reduced oversight tend to embolden offenders.
According to data from SafeWise, Texas ranks third nationwide for front-door package theft, with losses exceeding $1 billion.
Sailor pointed to the importance of active deterrence security systems designed to interrupt theft rather than simply document it. These systems use visible lighting and audible alerts to signal surveillance in real time. In footage captured at IC Realtime facilities, suspects have been seen leaving within seconds after a voice warning activates.
For residents impacted by these incidents, the loss extends beyond replaceable items. Along with furniture, thieves also took a handmade blanket—an irreplaceable family heirloom sewn from the homeowner’s old college T-shirts.