Sophisticated Porch Pirate Ring Busted in New York: A High-Tech Holiday Warning
Suffolk County prosecutors have dismantled what they describe as an elaborate porch piracy operation that used hacked shipping information to target high-value packages across Long Island. The sophisticated theft ring, led by 29-year-old Bronx resident Andricson Jerez, employed an insider edge that allowed them to swoop in on deliveries containing expensive electronics almost immediately after they were dropped off.
“The conspirators seemed to be waiting for the packages,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney told reporters. The investigation, spanning from October 2023 to February 2025, revealed an operation that went far beyond opportunistic package theft. According to authorities, the thieves hacked into FedEx tracking information for devices from Verizon and AT&T, allowing them to monitor deliveries and strike with precise timing. The group’s brazenness was captured on multiple home security cameras, with footage showing thieves taking packages mere minutes after FedEx drivers completed deliveries. In one particularly alarming incident, the thieves allegedly followed a homeowner into her house after she brought a package inside, determined to steal it regardless of obstacles. Another shocking video showed the group rushing a delivery driver in the middle of a busy street as he carried a package containing 15 Samsung tablets, then fleeing in a waiting getaway car.
The operation’s infrastructure was as sophisticated as its targeting methods. Prosecutors identified 14 individuals involved in the scheme, facing a combined 50 felony charges. The organization allegedly maintained distinct roles, with six “runners” who traveled to suburban areas to steal packages: Wandy Almanzar Liranzo, Jackson Suazo, Alvaro Alvarez Fermin, Leonel Tejeda Reynoso, Felipe Batista, and Luger Guerrero. Four “lieutenants” – Luis Marte Tavares, Eugenio Valencia, Raimond Cabrera de Leon, and Juan Baez – allegedly transported stolen goods from a Bronx stash house to three other conspirators who handled distribution: Fawaz Hameed (owner of a Manhattan electronics store), Anzar Ali, and Eddie Zaibak. According to prosecutors, the stolen merchandise was sold both through a storefront on Broadway in Manhattan and in bulk to wholesalers domestically and internationally. When authorities raided the Bronx hideout, they discovered approximately 200 new phones and over $100,000 worth of additional merchandise still in original packaging.
The criminal enterprise targeted both working-class and affluent communities across Suffolk County, focusing primarily on packages containing smartphones and other valuable electronics. While most incidents involved legitimately ordered phones, prosecutors also found evidence that at least one member was using stolen identities to place fraudulent orders. The ring was allegedly so prolific that law enforcement noticed a significant spike in porch piracy crimes throughout the region. “Most incidents (and all charged) involved residents who legitimately ordered phones,” a spokesperson for Tierney’s office explained. “The defendants would obtain the tracking information for the legitimately ordered phones and steal the package from the destination almost simultaneously with the delivery.”
The case highlights the evolving sophistication of theft rings as e-commerce continues to dominate retail sales, particularly during the holiday shopping season. FedEx acknowledged the problem in a statement, noting that the entire shipping industry is working “proactively” with law enforcement to combat increasingly sophisticated theft operations. The aftermath of the arrests has been complicated by New York’s bail laws. While ringleader Jerez was released on $75,000 bond and faces similar charges in New Jersey, along with federal charges shared with two other defendants, most suspects were placed on supervised release with passport surrenders. One defendant, Reynoso, remains jailed on $50,000 bail, while another, Fermin, was arrested in New Jersey last year and subsequently placed in ICE custody, ultimately accepting voluntary departure in July. Several defendants were released without bail because their charges weren’t eligible for cash bail under New York law.
As the holiday shopping season intensifies, District Attorney Tierney is urging consumers to take proactive measures to protect their deliveries. Security experts recommend installing home security cameras, scheduling deliveries for times when someone is home, communicating with neighbors about package arrivals, or having items delivered to workplaces instead of unattended homes. The widespread nature of porch piracy underscores the scale of the problem – according to Security.org’s annual theft report, one in four Americans has fallen victim to package theft, with thieves stealing more than $8 billion worth of merchandise nationwide in the past year alone. This case serves as a stark reminder that modern package thieves aren’t just random opportunists – they may be part of sophisticated criminal enterprises using technology and organization to target valuable shipments with alarming precision.
