Porch pirates and holiday scams were some unwanted presents at the doorstep of Gainesville residents during December.
Over the holiday season, there’s a marked increase in residents reporting they were victims of package theft or scammers. Theft and burglary-related crimes make up an average of almost 30% of reported incidents year-round, increasing by 2% during December, according to data from DataGNV.
Shoplifting is an issue at retail stores, Gainesville Police Department Detective Sgt. Nick Ferrara said, but residents need to be wary of package delivery and scams, too.
“Some of these people are so just brazen about how they do it,” he said.
Ferrara said installing video surveillance on front doors is one of the best measures against porch pirates. It allows police to identify the suspect and track them down, he said.
“It really comes down to if somebody has really good video footage,” he said. “But again, sometimes people just get away with it.”
Ferrara also warned against falling for common scams that become more active during the holidays. These often present in the form of fake emails, calls and text messages claiming various fictional scenarios, he said.
In the past, Ferrara said GPD employed holiday details where officers were paid overtime to increase their presence in shopping centers. In more recent years, he said there have been fewer of these assignments.
“Truthfully, we are short-handed, and we're working on it. It is difficult to get enough people out there,” Ferrara said. “When your resources are limited, there's only so much you can do.”
In December 2024, GPD responded to over 100 reports of theft and burglary-related incidents. Throughout the rest of the year, theft and burglary remain the most common crimes in Gainesville, according to dataGNV.
Lenny Roque, a 20-year-old UF chemical engineering junior, said he experienced it first-hand after returning to his apartment in The Retreat apartment complex after winter break. When Roque walked through his door on Jan. 10, he said he noticed something odd.
“It almost felt like it was cleaned out,” Roque said. “Then we turned around and saw a broken door.”
It wasn’t long before he realized he had been burglarized over the holidays. Roque said he and his roommates discovered the robber had taken several items and broken into multiple rooms. Roque’s boombox and laptop were stolen from his bedroom.
Roque said his roommates had a watch and shoes stolen, and there was evidence their bedroom doors had been forced open. However, Roque’s bedroom door showed no signs of forced entry, he said.
“Someone might have spoofed it. The officer said someone maybe copied it because it’s an electronic fob,” Roque said. “We don’t know too much as to how they got in.”
Oddly enough, he said, cash and other electronics in the apartment were left behind.
Roque said he hasn’t received any updates about the case from GPD. He said he would feel better knowing how the burglars got in.
“The first night, trying to fall asleep was a little strange,” he said. “I feel like once I know how they entered, I would feel like I would sleep better at night.”
In response to the break-in, Roque said he and his roommates decided to invest in a Ring camera, and possibly add cameras inside their apartment for added security. Roque said he wants to add one in his room as a deterrent against burglars.
Angel Berrios, a 22-year-old UF digital arts and sciences senior, had a similar experience. However, he said his Ring camera saved the day.
Berrios lives in a house across the street from UFORA Gainesville with eight other students, and all of them were away with family when a burglar broke in on Christmas day. One of his roommates saw on their Ring camera that someone was in the house, and quickly called the police.
Berrios said the burglar tried to steal smaller valuables, including jewelry and a speaker. He said the previous residents had faced troubles with robberies, so he and his roommates installed two Ring cameras when they moved in.
“That was a lifesaver,” he said. “He probably would have stolen more stuff if we didn't have that.”
While Berrios said he’s not worried about another burglary while he and his roommates are in town for classes, he is concerned they might face another during a future break.
“I definitely think it could happen again,” Berrios said.
Contact Kaysheri Haffner at khaffner@alligator.org. Follow her on X @kaysheri_h.
