DoorDash delivery bag used as cover to steal package from porch

A package stolen off a porch has become all too common, but it's what a thief used to steal from one Durham porch that surprised the victim.

Posted 6:34 p.m. Feb 8 — Updated 6:51 p.m. Feb 8

Pritchard Strong

, WRAL consumer producer

RALEIGH, N.C. — A package stolen off a porch has become all too common, but it’s what a thief used to steal from one Durham porch that surprised the victim.

"The packages were left here behind this plant," Tim Morgan said as he showed 5 On Your Side where his delivery was stolen. "And the gentleman came from that area there, up the steps, stopped here, put down the DoorDash bag, slid it in and then took off."

That’s right, surveillance video showed a thief used a DoorDash delivery bag to stash the stolen package from Morgan’s front porch.

"Urban camouflage, who suspects a DoorDash bag of being any problem," Morgan said.

Inside that package were five cell phones for Morgan’s family worth about $7,000!

"We’re talkin’ real money that’s affecting our credit right now," Morgan said. He also told us he believes he was targeted. "I believe that he had knowledge that it was here because he went directly to it. He went past packages on other porches and came right here."

He filed a report with Durham Police and with his cell phone carrier, AT&T.

5 On Your Side reached out to DoorDash who told us that based on the video, they couldn’t confirm whether this was one of their Dashers and it may not have been.

DoorDash doesn’t ask for delivery bags back when a Dasher leaves the company and you can find delivery bags from multiple services and restaurants for sale online.

"It looked legitimate," Morgan said of the delivery bag.

He was able to get a refund from AT&T, but says this should be a warning to others.

"[I] just feel like everybody should know, if you see someone in the neighborhood make a mental note," Morgan warned.

Different carriers have different options to manage deliveries. Some let you ship to a locker or local retail store, others you can reroute mid-shipment.

Below are links to shipping and delivery options of some of the major carriers: