Sheriff's Office Offers New Service To Foil Porch Pirates

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Worried about porch pirates ruining your holiday season?

Beginning Monday and running through Dec. 21, Hillsborough County residents can have their online orders shipped to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's District 3 Office, 7202 Gunn Highway in Tampa, or the District 5 Office, 10128 Windhorst Road in Tampa, where a deputy will accept and safeguard items until residents can pick them up.

Sheriff Chad Chronister announced the launch of “Operation Pinch-A-Grinch” to protect Hillsborough County residents from package theft during the holiday season.

“Online shopping is easy: just point, click, buy, and your package is delivered,” said Chronister. “This year, with the coronavirus impacting in-store shopping, even more people will be shopping online.”

With more people having packages delivered, the sheriff's office has seen a major increase in porch pirates, thieves who wait for delivery trucks to drop off packages at residents' front doors and then snatch them.

Hillsborough Sheriff

In 2019, there were 274 reports of package thefts in Hillsborough County, amounting to more than $76,000 in losses to the victims.

“Operation Pinch-A-Grinch is simple. When checking out online, just enter your name and our district address for delivery," Chronister said.

"We understand that many within our community have very busy schedules, from working to taking their children to school to caring for their families,” the sheriff said. "That is why we are offering a wide range of convenient pick-up hours."

Package distribution times will be Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. A deputy at the front desk of each of the two district offices will be available to assist.

Residents must have a government-issued photo identification card and an order tracking number to pick up their packages. Packages must be less than 50 pounds.

“I am very excited to launch Operation Pinch-A-Grinch, and I hope that by working together and encouraging members of our community to take advantage of this new program, we will keep the Grinch from stealing Christmas here in Hillsborough County,” said Chronister.

For more information on Operation Pinch-A-Grinch, visit here.