Media Release. Thursday, March 16, 2023.
Two Charged in Multi-Jurisdictional “Porch Pirate” Investigation
(Innisfil/Bradford, ON) The South Simcoe Police Service has arrested two people and laid numerous charges following a multi-jurisdictional investigation into mail and delivery package thieves commonly referred to as “porch pirates.”
The investigation began in March 2023 and resulted in police recovering a stolen auto, approximately $90,000 worth of jewelry and dozens of other personal items being shipped and mailed. Property has been recovered for victims spanning 16 different cities and towns across Central Ontario with more still to be identified.
The crime spree consisted of thefts from residential properties and hotels in addition to complex identity theft and fraud occurrences. South Simcoe Police Service officers executed two search warrants at a hotel room in Hamilton and on a vehicle seized in Innisfil, where they recovered a large quantity of stolen jewelry, clothing, watches, bank cards, government issued documents and personal mail. Police also seized 18 grams of suspected methamphetamine and 18 grams of suspected fentanyl.
As a result of the investigation, police have charged the following people with offences including theft, fraud, possession of stolen property and possession of drugs:
· Lily Goguen, 25, of no fixed address
· Brian Murray, 32, of Barrie
The South Simcoe Police would like to thank our policing partners at York Regional Police, Barrie Police, Hamilton Police and Waterloo Regional Police for their assistance with this investigation. Police are in the process of returning the stolen property to the rightful owners. If someone steals your parcel, report it to police. We also encourage residents to be a good neighbour, watch out for each other and report suspicious activity to police.
Here are some ways to help prevent the theft of your property:
· Ask to have packages delivered to your work (if allowed), a neighbour or a friend
· Track deliveries online to know when they will arrive and if possible, have packages delivered to a side or rear door, out of sight
· Remove packages from your porch quickly once they arrive
· Get a ‘safe drop’ or locked mailbox for packages
A photo of some of the recovered property is attached:
