A brazen-faced porch pirate was caught on surveillance video snatching a package worth thousands of dollars right out of the hands of a homeowner in a matter of seconds. 

The bold theft happened Tuesday in Montgomery County, PA, at around 3 p.m., when the victim, identified only as Henry, was retrieving the package containing six iPhones for his family, according to ABC 6. 

The thief can be seen running up to Henry’s door, bolting past an Amazon driver dropping off another delivery, as the homeowner bends over to pick up the high-value package. 

In a flash, the porch pirate — wearing a black “Guess” shirt and a black Philadelphia Phillies baseball hat — yanks the package away from Henry and runs off toward a light tan-colored sedan with tinted windows that was waiting for him at the edge of the property, the video shows.

“Once he gets in the back of the car, he just flew up the street,” Henry told the local news station.

The shameless robbery left the homeowner shaken.

“Now every time you open the door for delivery, you have to watch out,” he said.

He believes the thief targeted the package containing thousands of dollars worth of phones. Henry said he saw the same sedan drive past his house moments before the shocking theft. 

“They see the FedEx, they u-turn and then they come up the block and come right in front of the FedEx,” he said.

Even odder — moments after the theft, Henry said he received a mysterious phone call from an unknown number asking him to return the six phones that were just stolen. 

He explained what happened to the caller but was immediately hung up on. 

“That’s kind of weird too,” Henry said. “Both of them happened at the same time.” 

In Pennsylvania, stealing packages from someone’s front steps could now be considered a felony offense, thanks to a law signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro in December that was officially enacted in February. 

Senate Bill 527 has enacted stricter penalties for repeat offenders and people who steal higher-value packages.

The law makes porch piracy a third-degree felony if the value of the stolen items exceeds $2,000 or the accused thief has two or more prior convictions for mail theft.

Any thief convicted under the law can face up to seven years in prison. 

An estimated $6 billion worth of goods were stolen by porch pirates across the US in 2023, according to statistics released by home security tip company SafeWise.

An estimated 113 million packages were nabbed off doorsteps, which was a 5% increase from 2022.

Over half of all stolen packages were delivered by Amazon.

71% of all packages stolen were valued at $100 or less, according to SafeWise. 

10 Pennsylvania 4-H members attended the National 4-H Conference

PUBLISHED ON May 12, 2024

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As part of an effort to bring youth voice to high-level government discussions, 10 Pennsylvania 4-H members attended the National 4-H Conference, April 19-24, at Hyatt Regency Crystal City near Washington, D.C.

The 4-H’ers representing Penn State Extension were David Gober and Melissa Griswold, of Chester County; Mara Ours, of McKean County; Mikayla Deiter, of Perry County; Lex McCurdy, of Lawrence County; Savannah Hein, of Franklin County; Chrisalyn Mitchell, of York County; Zoe Kelter, of Bucks County; Garrett Hubbard, of Bedford County; and Jaylene Everhart, of Centre County.

“National 4-H Conference allowed me to collaborate with like-minded change-makers to create suggestions for problems I’m passionate about,” Griswold said. “This event showed me how much of an impact youth can have on our country and has inspired me to try to continue to create positive change in my nation.”

During this event, 4-H members ages 15-19 participated in roundtable discussions on pressing national topics. After a few days of brainstorming and preparation, the youth presented their ideas to a federal agency.

“Every year, this program reminds me of the power in youth voice,” said Jeanette Stackhouse, Penn State Extension 4-H education specialist for leadership and civic engagement. “Many in our society look down on teenagers, but this conference reinforces to me that they are our future, and they have great ideas to share to solve big problems.”

Griswold worked on a roundtable focused on adolescent health and well-being.

“My fellow delegates and I identified areas of teen health we felt could be improved: nutrition, mental health, reproductive health and drug use,” she said. “Then, we created recommendations on how to improve each of those areas and shared our ideas with the Department of Health and Human Services.”

Within her roundtable, Griswold concentrated on nutrition and offered suggestions such as improving food literacy by bringing farmers into schools to educate youth on where their food comes from. Her group also proposed a personalized meal plan system that uses artificial intelligence to suggest a balanced, nutritious diet and provide sample recipes tailored to individual lifestyle factors.

Gober’s group examined how to increase youth recruitment in AmeriCorps and suggested updating the website, application and social media.

Ours’ roundtable was titled “Promoting Inclusive and Welcoming Communities.”

“Many of our suggestions revolved around learning how to combat bias, celebrating our differences and educating others,” she said. “This event has taught me how to work with diverse groups of people to reach a common goal. I have also learned a lot about our government and its procedures.”

Kelter’s presentation looked at rural and agricultural youth development.

“We touched on topics related to making rural areas more attractive for young adults to move to and strategies for retaining those who already live there,” she said. “We believe that health care, education and internet connectivity are some of the key reasons why youth feel forced to leave their rural communities.”

In addition to participating in roundtable discussions, the 4-H members met new people from different parts of the U.S. and took a night tour of the Washington monuments. They also spent a day on Capitol Hill engaging with their senators and representatives.

“Touring the city and meeting with different representatives and officials allowed me to become involved with my community while also giving me the opportunity to explore and learn,” McCurdy said.

“This experience has helped me to grow connections around the country and the world,” Gober said, pointing out that some delegates came from the Northern Mariana Islands. “I will take away the information that I learned about working with others to solve problems.”

Calling it a life-changing experience, Deiter said she was grateful for the opportunity to attend.

“I met so many amazing people and even visited the Pentagon,” she said. “My biggest takeaway from this experience is that if there is something you want to do, go after it. When I applied, I wasn’t sure if I would be accepted, but now I know that putting your name out there and just trying is what brings big rewards.”

Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth-development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring and contributing citizens. To find your local program, visit the Pennsylvania 4-H website at https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-H

–Alexandra McLaughlin, Penn State University

Generations of travelers, especially from cities along the eastern seaboard, have vacationed in the Pocono Mountains region of northeastern Pennsylvania. The kitschy honeymoon motels with heart-shaped bathtubs have largely been replaced with big resorts (several with indoor water parks), but the natural grandeur of the Poconos remains. There are also still dozens of small towns tucked away in the Poconos, full of history and charm and just waiting to be explored. Check out our list of eight must-see small towns for 2024.

Lehighton

Coal mining in the Poconos goes back centuries, and Lehighton was long an important coal-shipping town along the Lehigh River and the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Nearly all of the coal mines have long since closed, so Lehighton now thrives on tourists seeking to explore the beautiful outdoors that surround the town. Nearby natural highlights include Lehigh Gorge State Park and the D&L National Heritage Trail. Lehighton also hosts lots of fun community events, such as the Great Pocono Pumpkin Festival in October, held at the “World’s Largest General Store,” Country Junction.

Jim Thorpe

Once called Mauch Chunk, the town of Jim Thorpe is named for one of the greatest American athletes of the twentieth century, who is also buried in town. Most of the buildings downtown long predate the 1954 name change and represent an impressive array of architectural styles, making Jim Thorpe perfect for a walking tour. After checking out the Asa Packer Mansion Museum, book a trip on the 16-mile-long Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway for some lovely natural sightseeing. Jim Thorpe also keeps a busy community social calendar, with highlights including the Independent Film Festival (April), Fall Foliage Festival (October), and Olde Time Christmas Weekends (December).

Stroudsburg

Stroudsburg (population 6,000) is the largest town in the Poconos, and as a result, it bustles with festivals and community events all year long. To name just a few examples, Stroudsburg hosts the Quiet Valley Farm Animal Frolic in May, the Pride Festival and Juneteenth in June, the Pocono State Craft Festival in August, and StroudFest in September. Even if there is not a festival going on in town, Stroudsburg is a great place to explore, with longtime shops such as Dunkelberger’s and historic highlights like the 1795 Stroud Mansion and 1890 Monroe County Courthouse. The fantastic Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is also just a short drive away.

Bushkill

The little community of Bushkill is home to one of the region’s most famous natural features: Bushkill Falls, a series of eight waterfalls known as the “Niagara Falls of Pennsylvania.” Visiting the falls requires some hiking, but the stunning beauty of the natural scenery is more than worth the effort. Bushkill is also home to Poconos Park, a 10,000-seat amphitheater that hosts some of the region’s biggest events. The 2024 calendar includes TacoFest (May), Motorcycle-themed (May), and 1980s-themed (July) music festivals, an Independence Day carnival (July), a haunted house (October), and drive-through holiday lights (December).

Delaware Water Gap

The town of Delaware Water Gap is named for the towering and narrow mountain pass cut through by the Delaware River. The community sits on the valley floor, and the Appalachian Trail leads up Mt. Minsi for an elevated view of the area. Outdoors enthusiasts can enjoy mountain biking on the McDade Recreational Trail, whitewater rafting along the river, and migratory bird watching (and much more) at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The town is also a live music hotbed and hosts the annual COTA Jazz and Arts Festival in September.

Honesdale

Honesdale is called the “Birthplace of American Railroading” and maintains a replica of the nation’s first commercial steam locomotive, the 1829 Stourbridge Lion, at the Wayne County Historical Museum. The Stourbridge Rail Line used to haul coal but now serves as a 25-mile-long scenic railway that is particularly beautiful in autumn. Honesdale’s residents also showcase their lovely little town with fun events all year long, including the Roots and Rhythm Music and Arts Festival in June, Wayne County Fair in August, Harvest and Heritage Days in October, and Winter Wonderland at the end of November.

Tannersville

Tannersville is one of the oldest communities in the region, with a history stretching back more than 250 years, but it is much better known today for its modern tourist amenities. Tannersville is home to a Poconos mega-resort, Camelback Resort, which offers luxury accommodations and year-round activities ranging from skiing to zip-lining, along with a giant indoor water park and events like UllrFest in November. Shoppers also flock to the Poconos Premium Outlets in Tannersville, home to more than 100 outlet shops. For a nature getaway, hike to the summit in Great Pocono State Park to soak in fantastic panoramic views.

Tobyhanna

Like Tannerville and Camelback Resort, the little community of Tobyhanna is home to a mega-resort (Kalahari Resort) that brings in vacationers and convention-goers from near and far. Kalahari’s African flora and fauna theme may not relate much to the Poconos, but the resort has excellent amenities, including a 220,000-square-foot indoor water park. For a more authentic Poconos experience, head to nearby Tobyhanna State Park for boating, hiking, and more. Or, zip over to Pocono Raceway, a famous auto racing track that hosts a NASCAR event each July and other races throughout the season.

The Poconos region of Carbon, Pike, Monroe, and Wayne counties has transformed itself into a true four-season destination. The region’s small towns play their part by hosting fun community events throughout the year, and also simply by being lovely little places to visit. Whether you prefer historic architecture, scenic railways, mountain trails, live jazz, or indoor water parks, you cannot go wrong exploring the small towns of the Poconos. So, make your 2024 travel plans today!