Someone took calling themselves a “human trash can” just a bit too far in Sacramento, California. Footage from a doorbell camera shows someone dressing up as a literal trash bag to steal people’s mail.
A Sacramento resident received a notification about the delivery, but when they went to check for the package it was nowhere to be found. After reviewing the footage from their doorbell camera they realized that a porch pirate got super creative with their thievery.
The video shows someone crouched down, wearing a black trash bag over their body, with only their shoes showing. We then see them hobble toward a front porch, grab the delivery, and shuffle away.
Mail Theft
On top of being annoying, mail theft is also a federal crime that has seen a sharp increase as online ordering becomes more pervasive. According to United States Postal Service inspector Jeff Fitch, many thieves are often looking for “attractive items” including credit cards, checks, and personal identifiers. Things that can be used to either steal someone’s identity or just rack up a lot of debt in their name. But sometimes they will just take whatever is available and hope it is a high-value item.
One of the biggest spikes in this kind of theft was seen during the coronavirus pandemic when stimulus checks began to be sent out. U.S. Postal Inspection Service data reports that between 2019 and 2022, there was an 87% increase in mail theft.
“[The trash bag disguise] does not surprise me,” Fitch said. He has seen mail thieves dress up in helmets or vests to appear as contract workers on the street. Since most people wouldn’t question why someone like that is just wandering around during the day.
The problem has gotten so out of hand that the reward for providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of mail thieves has jumped from $10,000 to up to $100,000. Those convicted of mail theft can face up to five years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine.
If you suspect mail theft you can report it by calling the U.S. Postal Inspection Service 24-hour dispatch at 877-876-2455.
You can check out the bizzare video below:
