Utilizing camera technology and quick action on the ground, Brookhaven Police officers located and arrested an Atlanta man suspected of multiple incidents of porch piracy.
Lazlow Miller, 35, of Atlanta, was arrested Dec. 21 at approximately 9 p.m., according to a release from the BPD. He remains in DeKalb County jail, according to county records.
Officers received a Flock Safety alert near Sheridan Road and Someo Court for a vehicle previously linked to earlier porch piracy incidents, which Miller was known to drive, the release said.
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“While officers were actively canvassing the area for the vehicle, dispatch received a call for service from Sheridan Court reporting a package theft that had occurred within the previous five minutes,” the release said. “Officers quickly located the suspect vehicle as it was leaving the area of Kingsley Circle and Sheridan Road. The vehicle was blocked in, and Miller was taken into custody without incident.”
A search of the suspect’s vehicle revealed that he had two packages stolen from a residence on Sheridan Court, along with an additional package from an unknown address.
Brookhaven Police investigators also obtained an arrest warrant for a separate porch piracy incident from Dec. 1 in Brookhaven, and charged Miller in connection to that incident.
Brookhaven Chief Brandon Gurley praised the coordinated response.
“This arrest highlights the critical role technology plays in modern policing and the dedication of our officers who act swiftly when seconds matter,” Gurley said. “By leveraging real-time tools like Flock and combining them with proactive patrol work, our officers were able to quickly locate the suspect, recover stolen property, and bring this incident to a safe resolution.”
With porch piracy on the rise during the holidays, Brookhaven Police encourage residents to follow these well-recommended safety measures:
• Hide your drop spot: Choose a concealed delivery location, behind a planter, side gate, or deck box, and save that preference permanently using services like UPS My Choice, FedEx Delivery Manager, or USPS Delivery Instructions.
• Use lockers for valuables:
Have high-value items delivered to secure Amazon Hub Lockers, UPS Access Points, FedEx Hold at Location, or USPS hold for pickup instead of your front porch.
• Enable delivery notifications:
Turn on tracking alerts (USPS Informed Delivery, UPS My Choice, FedEx Delivery Manager) and retrieve packages promptly after delivery.
Install a porch parcel box:
Consider a locking package box or “delivery box” on your porch, some include Bluetooth or app controls, for secure deliveries.
• Schedule or reroute deliveries: Use carrier options to schedule deliveries when you’re home or reroute to your workplace or a local carrier store.
• Build a neighborhood watch network:
Agree with neighbors to retrieve packages if they sit unattended for over an hour. Consider appointing a “package captain” or using neighborhood apps for communication.