Amazon Driver Takes The 'Bait' Package, Gets Arrested: Sheriff

HILLSBORO, OR – The Washington County Sheriff's Office left a "bait" package outside a home in Aloha in an attempt to catch a package thief, or porch pirate as they are frequently known. On Sunday evening, the sheriff's office says that someone took the bait.

At around 6:40 p.m. on Sunday, deputies responded to an alarm that had gone off when a bait package was removed from a home around Southwest Tualatin Valley Highway and 170th Avenue in Aloha.

Using GPS information from the tracker in the device, they converged on a black 2015 Nissan Altima.

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Officials say that the driver – now identified as 29-year-old Perez Johnson of Portland – admitted to taking the package.

The Sheriff's Office adds that Perez told deputies that he is a delivery person for Amazon and had stolen the package while delivering another package to the same address.

Deputies found 18 Amazon packages in Johnson's car. They personally delivered those packages to make sure that they got there.

"Numerous" bait packages have been placed at homes around the county, according officials. Last year, they arrested three people for taking the bait.

Johnson was booked into jail, charged with theft.

Photos via Washington County Sheriff's Office.