Porch Pirate: Loleta man suspected of package theft, prowling

FORTUNA, CA. – Fortuna police arrest a man suspected of theft and prowling.

At 8:15AM Friday, police received word that a man had stolen a package off the porch of a home on the 500 block of Summer Street.

The homeowner says he saw this happen and started chasing the suspect – Demarcus Conley of Loleta – on Fortuna Boulevard.

According to the homeowner, Conley threw the package and got away.

Officers searched the area and found Conley as he was walking into the backyard of a residence on the 1600 block of Newburg Road.

They followed Conley into the backyard and found him hiding near a fence, and he was arrested without incident.

Fortuna police get an increase of package theft calls during the holidays.

To protect yourself from the crime, law enforcement encourages requiring a signature for any deliver, tracking your package via text or email, or having your shipment sent directly to your workplace.