Utah family uses trackers to catch pirates on the porch

PROVO, Utah – A suspected package thief is behind bars after allegedly stealing a package with a GPS tracking device inside.

Justin Bankhead lost several packages to thieves.

“Two packages were stolen from us in the past week,” he said.

After several hundred dollars’ worth of items were stolen from him, he offered a $ 500 reward for clues leading to the arrest of a person who was caught on a surveillance video while taking a package.

READ: Salt Lake City is near the top in the US for stolen packages

Justin’s son accepted the offer.

“I didn’t care until I heard about the bounty,” said 14-year-old Cody Bankhead.

Cody has put a box in front of the family home. There was an activated GPS tracking device in the box.

Early Monday morning, a surveillance video captured the moment when a man approached the house, ran up the stairs, and ran away with the box – not knowing what was inside.

When he realized someone had taken the box, Cody told his father.

They got the tracking information and called the police.

“I don’t think he had any idea this was coming,” Justin said.

Moments later, the suspect was arrested.

READ: Generous Police Return Packages After Capturing Porch Pirates

“Everyone has these frustrations about these guys walking around neighborhoods and having it all,” Justin said.

He kept his promise and paid his son the reward money – a small price he had to pay to send a message to a would-be package thief.

“If you go out there you will get caught. People are listening, “said Justin.

Provo police say they took the suspect into custody and then handed him over to Orem police.

You advise people who do something like this never to put themselves in a dangerous situation.

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