Police urge residents to be a good neighbor, stay vigilant & report suspicious activity

The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) is urging every resident to “be a good neighbor” by reporting suspicious activity this holiday season and throughout the year.

Police officials say crimes are often prevented when citizens report suspected illegal activity. That’s especially true when it comes to combatting “porch pirates.” With only a few weeks until Christmas, deliveries are already arriving on doorsteps. The WFPD is enlisting the public’s help to ensure the rightful owners receive those packages.

As the popularity of online shopping and home delivery continues to increase, so does the threat posed by porch pirates. Police say these offenders may not intend to target a particular home but may walk or drive by an area and see an easy target where something of perceived value can be taken quickly without notice. In other instances, these criminals follow delivery drivers around and wait until a package or packages are dropped off. Once the courier is out of sight, the packages are stolen.

Police encourage residents to stay alert and report all crime and suspicious activity. If you see a package being stolen from a neighbor’s home, call police and report a “crime in progress.”

In addition, if you see someone acting suspicious or a vehicle that might be casing the neighborhood, call police immediately with an accurate description of the suspect(s) and/or vehicle as well as exactly what they were doing. Being a good neighbor is always the best defense against crime.

The WFPD relies on the Town’s citizens to be its eyes and ears. Anyone witnessing or experiencing suspicious activity is urged to call the police department at 919-554-6150 or 919-556-9111. You may remain anonymous.