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Agency tracks decoy packages with GPS to deter porch pirates this holiday

Posted at 6:05 PM, Nov 20, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-20 18:26:50-05

MEDWAY, Ohio — Porch pirates beware: the Medway Drug Enforcement Agency is now using their drug tracking technology to track box bandits.

“There is definitely a correlation between theft from store or porch to drugs,” said Jason Waddell Medway Drug Enforcement Agency Director.

Roughly 26 million Americans have had a package disappear from their doorstep. In Wayne County, Medway agents are packing up boxes of old junk, putting in a GPS tracking device, and delivering the boxes to the porches of people who have agreed to help.

“When it’s sitting on a porch, it’s dormant, not reporting anything to us. But, as soon as it moves, it sends out a message to us, letting us know it’s on the move,” explained Waddell.

It will then lead police to the exact location of the package.

In hopes of deterring the crooks, the agency is making the plan public first on Facebook, and now with this message.

“We want people to know if you do this, there is a good chance you’ll get caught and spend time in jail,” said Waddell.