SALT LAKE CITY -- Police are looking into a string of burglaries in the Liberty Park area, where the thief was caught on home security video in at least two of them.
The thief is seen in one video walking down Roosevelt Avenue. It appears he is checking out a package left on the front porch of the house. A few minutes later, that same man pulled up in his truck, snatched the package and drove away.
"I did feel a little bit violated. Someone came and crossed into personal property and took things that weren't theirs that we worked hard for," said victim Tugs Parra.
Parra couldn’t believe something like this could happen in the middle of the day. He said the stolen package contained Disney memorabilia worth over $200.
"It has a lot of meaning to us, the art was from a trip, it has memories attached to it," Parra said.
It appears this same thief, driving the same truck, during the same week, was caught yet again on security camera stealing another package, this time just a few blocks away on Herbert Avenue.
"Thievery is something I do not tolerate," said Russell Jacobs who lives across the street from this second victim
He said he learned his lesson, none of his packages will be left on the front porch.
Police say these are crimes of opportunity and can be prevented.
"Probably the best thing is to have the package sent somewhere where there is somebody there to receive it, maybe it's your place of business, maybe it's your neighbor's house," said Salt Lake City Police Det. Greg Wilking.
These thieves often follow around delivery trucks waiting for easy targets, according to police.
"If you see a UPS truck in your neighborhood or a Fed-Ex truck you pay attention and watch to make sure the package gets delivered," Wilking said.
"We as citizens we have to be diligent, we have to step up to the plate, we have to help those around us," Jacobs said.
These types of crimes are usually very tough to solve but with all the video police said there is a better than 50 percent chance they'll find the suspect.
"Thieves shouldn't get away with it, and I very much want to get what was taken from us back, I mean it's ours," Parra said.
Anyone with any information on these thefts is urged to call Salt Lake City Police.
