Disguised porch pirate seen on doorbell camera swapping iPhone package for a decoy
MIDDLESEX COUNTY (WABC) -- A front door heist was caught on camera in Middlesex County as a thief disguised as a delivery person stole a package and left something behind.
New cellphones were stolen and they couldn't get a refund from the cell carrier, so they called 7 On Your Side.
"So as soon as you see the FedEx drive away, the thief walks up. So he had to have known down to the second," victim Mark Boutros said.
"And he's walking up with the real package. Comes up to the door, places it down. After he walks away is about 30 seconds later the other guy walks up from behind," Boutros said.
Boutros said the thief must have known there was a doorbell camera and parked around the corner. He said the thief walked about a block away.
"It was not a real Amazon delivery guy," Boutros said.
The imposter was wearing an Amazon vest when he walked up and took the package containing two Apple 15 Pro Maxes ordered from AT&T.
"They were for me and my wife. We got them for as a Christmas gift for each other," Boutros said.
The porch pirate took the package and left a decoy behind, as seen on the doorbell footage.
An empty box was left to buy time in case anyone was watching.
Boutros filed a police report and contacted AT&T.
He was instructed to order new phones at no charge but then weeks later he received an email that he owed $1,200 on his account.
"They just gave us the runaround. They told us that we could appeal. And we wouldn't get another collection letter," Boutros said.
He said he couldn't afford to have any bankruptcies or collections and he could lose his job.
The battle had been going on for two years.
Boutros said he heard crickets from AT&T until 7 On Your Side got involved. Then he got a call from somebody very high up the food chain at the telecom giant.
"It was somebody in the president's office at AT&T. She said she got contacted from 7 On Your Side and she's going to take care of the problem right away," Boutros said.
Their outstanding bill and credit was wiped clean with $1,200 off their account.
An AT&T Spokesperson said in a statement, "This experience fell short of the high standards we have for addressing our customers' concerns. We worked with Mr. Boutros and have resolved this issue."
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