Sneaky thief targets delivery trucks

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Thieves driving around looking for packages on porches this time of year are getting even more efficient. Now thieves are following delivery trucks and waiting for them to make their drop-off. An Albuquerque family thinks it happened to them and they have video of the crook. Just in time for Christmas, UPS delivered a package to the Palmisano family's Albuquerque home near Carlisle and Lomas Monday. Two minutes later, a woman swipes the package off the front porch, in broad daylight.

"Its unfortunate. People surprise you in unfortunate ways" Kim Palmisano said.

Kim Palmisano says the package had gifts for her husband, Steve, and her father, wireless Bluetooth speakers. She and her husband were home when the package was delivered, but they did not hear a thing. They suspect the thief was following the UPS driver, waiting for him to make his deliveries..

"It was two minutes after the ups guy dropped it off and it's kind of hidden there behind the bush so you'd have to... I mean, she knew exactly where it was" Steve said.

UPS says its drivers and peak-hire helpers are trained to watch out for suspicious activity and pay attention to people following closely.

"Our drivers know to look for that kind of thing. Our helpers know to look for that kind of thing, so if there is somebody following, we'll make sure to get the authorities involved and we'll take care of that" James Coffield, feeder manager for New Mexico said. UPS says customers can take extra precautions to protect themselves against thieves, by diverting packages to a neighbor or business that can take it in person or by requiring a signature instead of a simple drop-off. The Palmisanos say they hope their Grinch is caught, but they're not going to let it ruin their Christmas. KRQE News 13 called Albuquerque police to get numbers on how often people report stolen packages, but they said they do not track that specific type of theft.

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Sneaky thief targets delivery trucks