(Crankers) New York prosecutors say they’ve broken up a highly organized porch-pirate ring that spent two years stealing FedEx packages loaded with electronics and smartphones.
Sadly it took two years to bust the ring of thieves, but at least people can get their Black Friday sales delivered without worry… or at least less worrying.
Fourteen suspects were indicted on enterprise corruption, grand larceny, identity theft, and other felony charges, Suffolk County prosecutors announced Monday. Investigators say the group carried out at least 48 thefts between October 2023 and February 2025.
According to District Attorney Raymond Tierney, the crew allegedly manipulated FedEx’s delivery system to create fake cellphone orders and route them to random homes across Suffolk County without the residents’ knowledge.
A network of “runners” then grabbed the packages as soon as they were dropped off, while others handled the resale of the stolen devices. In one case, a defendant allegedly snatched a package from an elderly woman whose home had been used as a decoy address.
Prosecutors say the operation was run from two Bronx locations, where one ringleader allegedly supplied runners with insider FedEx tracking details, including customer names, addresses, device information, and tracking numbers tied to Verizon and AT&T shipments.
Video released by investigators shows suspects intercepting delivery drivers and scooping up packages moments after they were left on doorsteps. Prosecutors say the stolen electronics were funneled to wholesalers who moved them both in the U.S. and overseas.
During the investigation, authorities recovered more than 200 new smartphones, other electronics, an IMEI scanner, and over $100,000 in cash from a Bronx stash house. Officials say the IMEI scanner, typically used for inventory, can also be abused to clone devices or aid identity theft.
FedEx said it cooperated fully with the investigation and is working with law enforcement to combat increasingly sophisticated theft schemes so the scumbags could finally FIND OUT after they’ve been messing around so long!
Only real pirates are cool. Porch pirates, not so much!
— drastic215 (@drastic215x) November 25, 2025