Holiday Porch Pirates Busted as Columbus Police Net 17 Arrests in Targeted Sting

As the holiday shopping season ramps up, the Columbus Police Department quietly launched a series of targeted porch pirate operations across the city, turning the tables on package thieves who had been preying on residents.

Over the past several weeks, CPD carried out three separate enforcement operations at different locations throughout Columbus after receiving a growing number of complaints from homeowners whose deliveries were disappearing from their front porches. Officers strategically placed decoy packages at selected residences, closely monitored the areas, and moved in when suspects took the bait.

The results were immediate and significant. During the three operations, 23 decoy packages were stolen, leading to 17 arrests and a total of 31 criminal charges. Investigators say additional arrest warrants tied to other porch piracy cases are still pending.

Among those arrested were suspects ranging in age from 19 to 70. Charges included felony porch piracy, multiple counts of theft by taking, probation violations, and forgery-related warrants. With one exception, every suspect was caught in the act during the operations. One individual, 19-year-old Dakaeden Williams, was already wanted on outstanding porch piracy and theft warrants connected to separate investigations.

Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis said while these crimes may seem minor, their impact is felt deeply, especially during the holidays.

“These are property crimes, but during the holiday season they hit harder,” Mathis said. “Property crimes are classified as Part 1 crimes, and they often lead to larger criminal activity, including violent crime. We address them early and aggressively.”

Police say the operations were deliberately timed to coincide with one of the busiest delivery periods of the year, when thieves are more active and residents are most vulnerable. Officers emphasize that community reporting played a key role in identifying problem areas and launching the investigations.

CPD credits the success of the crackdown to coordinated efforts between the Property Crimes Unit, Special Operations, the 911 Center, the Records Room, detectives, and patrol officers who assisted throughout the investigations.

With package deliveries continuing to surge, Columbus Police say proactive enforcement efforts will continue and urge residents to keep reporting suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.