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Choosy Package Thief Opens Box On Porch Before Swiping Stuff: WATCH

By Ted Cox | October 6, 2017 11:51am | Updated on October 9, 2017 8:54am
 An alleged Lincoln Park package thief is shown on surveillance footage.
An alleged Lincoln Park package thief is shown on surveillance footage.
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LINCOLN PARK — Residents and neighborhood groups are warning about rampant package thefts across Lincoln Park.

The Sheffield Neighborhood Association sent out an email Thursday saying, "We have received several reports from Sheffield neighbors of packages being stolen from their front porches."

And a resident who asked not to be identified said at least five households in the area of Lincoln and Wrightwood avenues had been hit by what he called "a serial package thief."

Surveillance video was posted on YouTube of an incident Monday showing a man removing a paper bag from a backpack and apparently using it to collect packages left at the door.

The resident said neighbors were not satisfied with the Chicago Police Department's response to the reported thefts.

"I filed a report and told them I had him on video," the resident said. "The police said they would contact me but have not yet. Other neighbors also indicated they have video, but the police never went to collect it."

The Police Department advised that residents "directly contact area detectives regarding the theft case reports they generated."

The Sheffield Neighborhood Association linked to a website with eight recommendations on how to avoid package thefts, including using locker pickups, having packages delivered to a workplace and, yes, installing security cameras.