WHITMAN, MASS. (WHDH) - A Whitman woman was arrested Monday after police said she stole dozens of packages from homes ahead of the holidays.
Police said Cathy Lyden, 43, stole packages from the doorsteps of at least 20 homes in Whitman, Abington and Hanson. The packages, taken into evidence at the police department, include shoes, toys, art supplies, tools and home furnishings.
“You used to be able to put something on your steps and you’d feel totally comfortable that it’s going to be there when you get home,” said Chris Powers, who had a package containing slippers stolen from his doorstep. “But to have somebody come up on your property and take something off your steps, not a good feeling.”
Police said Powers’s neighbor helped crack the case. The neighbor said he saw a pickup truck pull into his driveway and saw Lyden walk out and take a package from the house’s doorstep. Fifteen minutes later, the neighbor said he saw the same pickup truck park in Powers’s driveway and saw Lyden walk out and take a package from the doorstep. The neighbor then took a picture of the truck and gave it to police.
Police said they tracked down the pickup truck and found Lyden taking the packages out and bringing them into her home in Whitman. Police said Lyden is known to them but they do not have a motive in the thefts.
Anyone who had a package stolen is asked to come to the police station with their receipts to get their deliveries back.
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