GLADSTONE, Ore. — Signs of the holiday season are everywhere: decorations, lights and package thieves. For crooks, 'tis the season to steal people's joy. Police in Gladstone said neighbors reported recent porch package thefts near Caldwell Road & Oatfield Road.
"Walked right up and took it," said Corey Saban, reviewing security video from his doorbell camera.
The alleged crook stole two boxes from Saban's stoop, Saturday afternoon.
"It's pretty annoying," said Saban. "I mean, we work hard for everything we have and for people to just come and take it — it was a kid's toy."
A neighbor chased after the suspect and spotted his car, a white Honda Civic with Washington license plates. Police said they're on the lookout for the vehicle, while noting crooks in these cases move from town to town, often trailing package delivery trucks. Like so many theft victims, Saban said he was discouraged by all of it.
"I don't think it's going to change one way or another, personally," he said.
Many people have resigned themselves to the risk of porch package theft during the holidays, but the Gladstone Police Department is offering a special service to help them avoid it. It's called the Santa Squad. Residents of Gladstone who order a package can have them delivered to the Gladstone Police Department between Nov. 18 and Dec. 23.
"I know with Amazon and all those other agencies, you can send it to a locker," said Gladstone Police Sargent Erik Graves. "We don't have very many of those if any in town, so we figured that this would be a good way to help that during the holidays."
Graves said those who use the Santa Squad service should address their deliveries to:
C/O Gladstone Police Department
18505 Portland Ave. Gladstone, OR
97027
They should also email Yvonne McNeil and provide the following:
- Your name
- Phone number to reach you when the package arrives
- Where the package is coming from
After the package arrives, Gladstone police will call recipients who can pick them up Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"That's our ultimate goal," said Graves. "To have less package theft."