(File image). Photo: 123rf
A man who allegedly stole a week's worth of dinners from the front door step of a home in Auckland has been arrested by police.
The victim made a 105 report on Sunday after realising their food shopping had been taken from their home on Lisle Farm Drive in Pukekohe, said Counties Manukau area commander Inspector Joe Hunter.
"The offending was recorded by home security cameras and the investigation team quickly identified the man.
"The team then executed a search warrant at his home address and arrested him, charging him with burglary.
"During the search warrant, the male in fact was allegedly in the process of eating the evidential material."
The 40-year-old man will appear in Pukekohe District Court on Tuesday charged with burglary.
The Pukekohe Tactical Crime Unit had been investigating a number of parcel thefts in the area and the report, along with CCTV, helped identify the alleged offender, said Hunter.
He said people could protect themselves from mail theft by sending parcels to a work address or ensuring they were home when parcels arrived.
Other tips included, clearing out letterboxes in a timely manner, putting a hold on mail delivery if away, providing clear delivery instructions for couriers to leave a package safely hidden or secured within the property, installing security cameras, and where practical considering click and collect over delivery.