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Subscribe to RSSA home delivery theft caught on tape had an unusual ending when the person who stole the delivery apparently had a change of heart and returned it days later.
Surveillance video shows a UPS delivery man dropping a package off at Zane Johnson's Chula Vista home on Dec. 17.
Johnson received email confirmation and headed home to pick up the package but by the time he got there, it was nowhere to be found.
“I went out the front door, looked around and didn't see it and then at that point I decided to take a look at the video,” Johnson said.
There, on the video, he watched as someone in shorts and a dark shirt walked off with the package less than 30 minutes after the UPS delivery.
On the video, a white van can be seen driving by Johnson's home then suddenly reversing direction. Soon after, it appears to be a man who walks up to Johnson’s home and then walks off with the package.
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Johnson called the Chula Vista police department and also decided to show the video to his neighbor.
It’s a good thing because the same neighbor spotted the van driving down the street the next day, jumped in his own car and got the work vehicle’s license plate.
Through that information, Johnson and the Chula Vista police were able to contact the owner of the van and identify the worker who was driving it at the time.
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But before the employee could be questioned by police, the package reappeared.
On Dec. 19 around 5:30 a.m. the same surveillance camera that captured the theft caught someone wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt returning the now-opened package.
“Initially it was shock,” Johnson said. “But then it was a little frustration because he returned the evidence and we didn't catch him.”
Zane decided to edit the tale into a video complete with music and posted it on YouTube.
While he’s happy the person returned the package, he’s not sure if the culprit took other packages before being caught on camera.
Leave a Comment:
The man should have been arrested anyways. He was tampering with mail which is a federal offense. And he still should have been arrested for theft regardless if the package was returned. The police department better still be looking into this guy despite this case being absolved.
I agree. If he robbed a bank but later returned all the money, he would still get in trouble because he robbed a bank! Same should go for stealing the package. Just because he put it back doesn't mean anything. He shouldn't have stolen it in the first place.
Tampering with US Mail is a federal offense. Tampering with UPS is not. Have you ever wondered why UPS can't put their deliveries in your mail box?
It was a UPS package, so it was not "tampering with the mail". Still wrong, but it was simple stealing.
It's obviously "not" the same man. The thief had more girth. The "delivery" guy who returned the package was taller and thinner. Please don't make identifications by clothing. I have five pairs of those shorts and I live in Hawaii.
Don't over analyze the video, who do you think "returned" the stolen package?
Do you think maybe a friend volunteered to take it back? Take the chance of the homeowner crushing his skull, or letting a pit bull go on him? Of course it was the thief...
They should identify the thief, disclose where he worked and make sure he were fired from the job, prosecute. The only reason the guy returned the package is because he was caught. Make an example of him.
Returning stolen property does not undo the crime of theft. The thief still needs to be arrested, charged and prosecuted for his crime. Returning the stolen property might justify some leniency when it comes to his sentencing, though.
@JohnTown your verbiage is insulting.
However, he should still be investigated and prosecuted. My guess is that many other peoples packages could be found at his home...who is the victim? Ultimately everyone who shops online because WE end up paying to replace those undelivered packages.
JohnTtown is right!!! Whoever these characters are they should be arrested and have their arms chopped off!!
Spoken like a true Taliban.
Let's go to the video, Vanna . . .
Thieves will never change - they will steal until caught and learn that it costs more to steal than to pay for product.
If they have the licence plate and know where he works, why cant the police press charges on the VAN OWNER for having his vehicle used in a robbery. It's the van owners responsibility to make sure whoever is driving it to be clean and safe. I'm sure the boss would give up the identity of the thief if it's HIM who will also be facing charges for this. The police should also be impounding the van, as it was used in a robbery
Well, what if this team has stolen other people packages either from USPS and others like UPS, DHL, FEDX.
It's still stealing, no matter what oh this time he got caught, so what. What about the countless others meaning packages they have stolen and sold the stolen merchandise they are getting richier (thieves).
For all brick & mortar and online businesses to demand an required a signature for any packages over $100.00 because of the high-level of theft.
And the UPS driver didn't even knock which I freaking hate that. And the van, all that are involved should be questioned and the business be sniffed out. It's fishy. Make a copy of everything and give one set to the police and press charges so it makes a dent.
A theft with the UPS driver dropped off a package but stole an Mini IPAD.
Really that doesn't require a signature!
I am actually thinking about P.O. BOX or Amazon Locker from now on.