Fremont police arrest suspected front-porch package thief

FREMONT -- A quick tip for front-porch package thieves: When stealing something, wait to get home before you open it.

Police arrested a Union City man Tuesday after witnesses spotted him stealing FedEx-delivered packages off porches of homes in the Ardendale neighborhood, said police spokeswoman Geneva Bosques.

Justin Garcia, 39, was arrested on suspicion of theft after a resident dialed 911 at 2:16 p.m. to report two men riding bikes and stealing boxes from front porches near Winslow Terrace, Bosques said.

The resident told police he watched the suspects ride away, stop near a fence line of a home and tear open boxes that had the word "Amazon" written on the side of them. The boxes, Bosques said, contained small household items.

Bosques said that after the suspects opened the boxes, they took some of the items and rode off on their bikes.

The resident followed them in a car and when officers arrived, they found one of the suspects near the Ardenwood railroad crossings but lost track of him. Police said that suspect is a Hispanic male in his late teens wearing a blue shirt, jeans and a blue and gray backpack.

The second suspect, who police identified as Garcia, was apprehended trying to flee on his bike. Officers found some of the items that had been inside the boxes in Garcia's possession and arrested him.

Bosques said that in recent weeks residents throughout the Ardendale neighborhood have reported finding their mail

Police are asking residents to keep an eye out for suspicious activity in the area and to dial 911 if something criminal appears to be taking place.

Anyone with information about this incident can call police at 510-790-6800 or at the anonymous tip line at 510-494-4856.

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Fremont police arrest suspected front-porch package thief