RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Porch pirates often target packages, but a thief in Richmond’s Museum District had eyes on something else — a $500 baby stroller.
On Monday, Feb. 12 at around 8:20 p.m., a person was seen on a home’s security camera swiping a baby stroller from a family’s front porch on West Grace Street.
The stroller was a baby shower gift and the homeowners, who requested anonymity, said they used it often to stroll their kids around the neighborhood. They told 8News that the stroller was usually stored inside but was left outside to dry that night because it was wet from the rain.
Matt Dinkel lives a few doors down on West Grace Street and said that, because of property crime in the neighborhood, he chooses to keep all valuables inside.
“We haven’t kept much on our porch,” said Dinkel. “We’ve had some packages disappear and we’ve also found like drinks, drink cups sitting on our porch. So, we have some furniture and cushions and stuff, but that’s all that we keep out here and we try to get packages as quickly as we can.”
The homeowners reported the stroller theft to the Richmond Police Department. So far in 2024, there have been 142 reported property thefts in the city.
The homeowners told 8News they understand people fall on desperate times, but taking a baby item means you’re stealing from a baby who needs it.
“Obviously a stroller is going to be a huge inconvenience to the people you stole it from,” said Dinkel. “It’s just unfortunate and disappointing.”
