ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Black Friday and Cyber Monday are around the corner, marking the busiest time of year for online shopping.
Unfortunately, St. Petersburg police say with that uptick in online purchases, they also see an uptick in package thefts.
Tonight, police are investigating a brazen theft in Shore Acres. Brandon Newport's home surveillance camera captured a hooded man approaching his door, swiping up an iPad that had been delivered just minutes before.
"It definitely seemed very calculated," Newport said. "He bypassed all the other packages, took the iPad, put it in his bag, and walked right off."
Newport said this is "salt in the wound" after the recent hurricanes. The $2,800 stolen iPad was a replacement for one destroyed by flooding.
"I waited a really long time to get this iPad Pro and it finally came in, and within 30 minutes of it being dropped off, it was gone," Newport said "We're on edge. I think we're going to be watching our doors a little bit more closely."
St. Petersburg police said they are currently investigating multiple package thefts in the Shore Acres, Snell Isle and Venetian Isle areas.
Now, they're urging everyone to take extra precautions. They advise you to add extra delivery instructions, like concealing the package or leaving it at a side door. They also recommend you track your packages or use an Amazon locker.
St. Petersburg Police spokesperson Yolanda Fernandez said, "The whole idea is to make this as difficult as you can for someone. Keep [packages] out of sight and make sure it's not just sitting out there for hours."
At this time, St. Petersburg police don't think the iPad theft is part of any larger trend related to Apple products.
In October of this year, a new law took effect which specifically cracks down on "porch piracy." If the property stolen is valued at $40 or more, it is now a 3rd-degree felony. A conviction comes with up to five years in prison.