SANTEE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — A Santee resident is warning his neighbors to stay vigilant after becoming the victim of a porch pirate.
“When I was able to review the camera footage, I saw there was some individual, not anyone I had known that was approaching my front door and looking around suspiciously,” said Jeremy Zaleski.
Zaleski said the incident happened last Thursday morning around 9:30 while he and his family were on the road heading out of town.
Security camera footage shows a woman wearing a black jacket, black and gray sweatpants, and white and red checkered slippers walk up to the home on Cambury Drive. She then grabs a dog harness and hoodie before walking away.
FOX 5/KUSI is not revealing her identity because at this time she has not been named as a suspect by the sheriff’s office.
“It’s not about the value of the object. If it doesn’t belong to you at the end of the day that’s theft,” said Zaleski, adding that he previously had a FedEx package stolen from his porch.
FOX 5/KUSI reached out to the sheriff’s office about the incident and were provided the following statement: “The Santee Sheriff’s Station is not seeing a personal property theft trend in Santee. Criminals always look for opportunities to strike. The public can take steps to protect their homes by not leaving valuables in plain sight. Whether it’s packages or personal property, take a few moments to safeguard your property. For more crime prevention information, visit:
“Hopefully that will never happen to me or to any neighbors around here,” said Zaleski’s neighbor Joseph Ferreira.
Ferreira said hearing about what happened to his neighbor is concerning.
“If a small thing happens and we don’t do anything about it, just grows into a bigger problem,” added Ferreira.
He said he’s grateful for their neighborhood watch group Zaleski started.
“I just want to let my neighbors in the community know not to be complacent and to always keep your head on a swivel out here,” Zaleski said.
He explained that he called the sheriff’s office and told them what he saw on his security camera while he was out of town, but now that he’s back, he plans to file a report with them.
