Montreal Man Reclaims Stolen Deliveries with Community Help

A man from Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Montreal, experienced a holiday miracle when he recovered stolen packages, thanks to a vigilant community member. The incident, commonly referred to as “porch piracy,” highlights the growing concern over package thefts during the festive season.

Adam Reider was not home when thieves made off with his deliveries, but he received real-time updates through a social media post. A neighbor noticed the suspicious activity and promptly called emergency services. They followed the suspects from a distance, providing police with detailed descriptions. This quick action enabled law enforcement to apprehend the individuals and recover Reider’s belongings the following day.

In a conversation with CTV News, Reider expressed his astonishment. “I just wanted to let you know some good news that we found the people, we’ve arrested them and we have your stuff. And I was like, what? I couldn’t believe it. That never happens,” he said.

The swift recovery of the stolen items is an unusual outcome, as many victims of porch piracy never see their belongings again. According to Claudiu Popa, co-founder of the KnowledgeFlow Cybersafety Foundation, such stories are rare. “It’s fantastic to hear that someone got products back, that they were not damaged, that it didn’t take too long to get them back,” Popa remarked. “Unfortunately, it’s a rare situation and most people never see their items.”

Popa offered practical advice on how to safeguard deliveries, especially during the holiday season. She recommended installing surveillance cameras as a deterrent against thieves. “In addition to them being a deterrent, you can also film porch pirates,” she noted. However, she cautioned that thieves often disguise themselves, suggesting that using a lock box or a pick-up box could further protect packages.

Reider emphasized the impact of his neighbor’s vigilance on his family’s holiday spirit. “I’m lucky that it happened to me and to my kids and family, who the presents are for,” he said. His experience serves as a reminder of the importance of community awareness and action in combating theft.

As the holiday season approaches, awareness of porch piracy becomes increasingly crucial. Community members can help mitigate such thefts by remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activities.