Columbus police Disrupt Porch Pirate ring, Make 17 Arrests
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Columbus, GA – The Columbus Police Department (CPD) has announced the arrest of 17 individuals following a series of targeted operations aimed at curbing porch piracy during the peak of the holiday shopping season. The proactive measures, conducted over several weeks, resulted in 31 total charges and underscore the department’s commitment to addressing property crime.
The operations stemmed from a surge in reports of stolen packages from residents throughout Columbus.In response, officers strategically deployed decoy packages at various locations, closely monitoring activity and apprehending suspects in the act. According to authorities, the timing of these operations was critical, coinciding with one of the year’s busiest delivery periods.
Operation Yields Notable Results
The CPD’s efforts led to the recovery of evidence related to 23 stolen packages and the subsequent arrest of 17 individuals. Beyond the immediate arrests, officials confirmed that additional arrest warrants related to ongoing porch piracy investigations are still pending.
The following individuals were taken into custody:
- Dakaeden Williams, 19 – Facing property crimes charges, including porch piracy (Felony) and three counts of Theft by Taking.
- Dashauna Wilborn, 41 – Charged with Theft by Taking and subject to a Violation of Probation warrant.
- Marlon Mobley, 32 – Charged with Theft by Taking.
- Myeesha Banks, 26 – Charged with Theft by Taking.
- David Heyliger, 23 – Charged with Theft by Taking.
- D’Mari Sackey, 20 – Charged with Theft by Taking.
- Lawrence Day, 40 – Charged with two counts of Theft by Taking.
- Tycorie Harris, 20 – Charged with two counts of Theft by Taking.
- Taylor Jones, 26 – Charged with two counts of Theft by Taking.
- one juvenile – Charged with two counts of Theft by Taking.
- James Waldon, 70 – Charged with Theft by Taking.
- Michael Seldon, 54 – Charged with Theft by Taking.
- Charles Render, 62 – Charged with Theft by Taking.
- Manuel Yaccarino, 35 – Charged with two counts of Theft by Taking.
- Troy Cardwell,32 – Charged with two counts of Theft by Taking.
- Dominique Kelley, 32 – Charged with Theft by Taking and a warrant for forgery, 4th Degree.
- Natika Kirsh, 28 – Charged with three counts of theft by Taking and subject to a Violation of Probation warrant.
Authorities noted that all suspects, with the exception of Williams, were apprehended while actively committing the crime. Williams was taken into custody on pre-existing warrants related to separate incidents of porch piracy and theft.
Addressing a Growing Concern
“These are property crimes, but during the holiday season they hit harder,” stated Chief Stoney Mathis. “Property crimes are classified as Part 1 crimes, and they frequently enough lead to larger criminal activity, including violent crime. We address them early and aggressively.”
The CPD emphasized the importance of proactive enforcement in combating package theft,notably as the volume of holiday deliveries continues to increase. The department also highlighted the crucial role of community involvement, urging residents to report any suspicious activity.
The success of these operations is attributed to the collaborative efforts of multiple units within the CPD, including the Property Crimes Unit, Special Operations, the 911 Center, the Records Room, and dedicated detectives and patrol officers. The Columbus Police department will continue its proactive enforcement efforts throughout the holiday season.
