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In a surprising twist in Lakeland, Florida, a DoorDash driver’s involvement in a theft has come to light. Captured by a doorbell camera, the driver was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly stealing a package straight from a resident’s porch.
The incident came to the attention of authorities on January 26, when deputies were called to a local home to investigate the reported theft. The homeowner, who had a Ring doorbell camera installed, provided crucial evidence to the police.
The video footage shows a man dressed in a hoodie and baseball cap, approaching the front door while carrying an empty DoorDash delivery bag. In an attempt to obscure his identity, he shields his face from the camera as he takes a sizable package from the porch and quickly leaves in a dark SUV.
Authorities from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office have stated that the stolen package was valued at approximately $70. This incident highlights the increasing role of technology, like doorbell cameras, in aiding law enforcement and ensuring neighborhood safety.
The package was valued at about $70.
The sheriff’s office said that the very next day, the resident of the home called again after locating the discarded box near her trash bins with the contents missing.
Deputies collected fingerprints from the box which they said belonged to 36-year-old Carlos Silva.
Detectives were able to confirm that Silva’s vehicle was in the area at the time of the theft. They were also able to contact his brother who confirmed that Carlos does work for DoorDash.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested Silva, and he is being charged with unarmed burglary and grand theft from a dwelling.
Silva is from Venezuela and was in the country with a pending immigration application. Post-arrest, his immigration status was revoked.
“This suspect was on track to remain in the country legally while his application was being processed, but he chose to commit a crime, and that decision cost him his status. When you break the law in Polk County, there are serious consequences,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.