2 Arrested After 'Porch Pirates' Caught On Camera

BALTIMORE COUNTY (WJZ)—Police are on high alert after "porch pirates" target the Baltimore County community.

Theft victims exclusively supplied WJZ with home surveillance video of two separate hits in the Pikesville area.

Nicknamed "porch piracy," the footage shows delivered packages being taken while homeowners are away.

"These two men were going around in yellow reflective vests and driving a dark colored SUV," said Cpl. John Wachter, with the Baltimore County Police Department.

In one of the videos, a dark colored SUV can be seen driving away from the scene in The Parke at Mt. Washington neighborhood. Alert neighbors had been on the lookout for the suspects' vehicle that had allegedly returned to the neighborhood several times over the past week, and one called 911 after spotting it on Tuesday. Undercover detectives later spotted it near the intersection of Chippewa Dr. and Greespring Avenue. and arrested two suspects.

According to police, John Leon Kenney, 25, of the 5000 block of The Alameda Rd. has been charged with multiple counts of fourth-degree burglary and theft. He is being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on $25,000 bail. The other suspect, Sean Lamont Arrington, 47, of the 3900 block of Wilsby Avenue, has also been charged with multiple counts of fourth-degree burglary and theft. He is being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on $20,000 bail.

Detectives with the Pikesville Precinct Investigative Services Team began an investigation after several residents reported packages being stolen from in front of their homes. In two of the cases, mini-freezers were stolen from in front of homes in the 6500 block of Pebble Brooke Rd. and 6700 block of Evanston Rd., according to a police release.

The convenience of online shopping and shipping has made it convenient for porch pirates.

They hit hardest around Christmas.

But the technology that makes internet shopping possible, is also working on defenses like an app called "Doorman" in San Francisco. It directs a package to be stored and delivered only when someone is home.

"This investigation is very, very active. They're out there on the street working on it as we speak right now," said Wachter.

And the technology of home surveillance is providing eyewitnesses when no eyes are home.

Police say the best defense against "porch pirates" is directing shippers to hold packages until they can be safely delivered, or picked up at a shipper's distribution center or at work.