Irvine Police Bust Man For Allegedly Stealing More Than 150 Packages
IRVINE (CBS) — Police detectives are reportedly combing through more than 150 parcels and packages they believe were stolen from the front doors of Irvine homes by one man.
Officials say the packages were all found in the car and home of Tien Kim Vu, a 27-year-old Santa Ana man.
Vu was arrested Thursday says Edward Lawrence, reporting for KCAL9 and CBS2.
The alleged thefts date back to early 2010, but the bulk of the theft complaints came in the last three months, say officials.
One detective, in particular, was troubled by what he saw was a pattern in the thefts, mostly occurring in North Irvine. In many of the reported thefts, a suspicious car was seen loitering through neighborhoods.
The unidentified detective spotted a car that fit that description Thursday evening. He watched Vu apparently drive up to a residence, take a package and put it in his passenger seat.
Moreover, police say Vu was driving in a car that had been reported stolen.
Yu has been booked into the Orange County Jail for possession of stolen property as well as petty theft.
Authorities say additional charges are pending.
The packages were delivered by UPS, the US Postal Service and FedEx.
Police say the property ranges from a photo album with pictures from the 70s, as well as a computer server valued over $1,000.
The Irvine police department wants to remind the public of several safety tips involving deliveries this holiday season: to ask neighbors to be on the lookout for deliveries, to insure packages, to have parcels delivered to your place of work (if possible) or to always require a signature.
If you believe Vu may have stolen a package you were waiting for, Edward Lawrence says to contact Detective David Smith of Irvine Police (949) 724-7233.
