Porch Pirate Steals Gift for Marine Veteran, But Officer Tracks It Down and Returns It

A family in Ceres was bracing for disappointment after a porch pirate snatched a Christmas gift meant for a Marine Corps veteran. But what happened next was something they never expected.

Heather Garfield says she ordered a personalized sweater for her husband Brian, who served five years in the Marine Corps. She wanted to surprise him but is currently recovering from breast cancer and couldn’t shop in person.

“It was really important to us,” she said. “I thought it was gone forever.”

Security video captured a woman walking up to their porch, grabbing the box and jumping into a waiting car. The theft hit especially hard as the holidays approach.

Ceres patrol officer and fellow Marine veteran Chuck Rushing responded to the call and immediately got to work. Using city cameras and neighborhood surveillance, he tracked the suspect vehicle and located the car with the stolen package still inside.

He hand-delivered the box back to the family, returning the custom sweater from one Marine veteran to another.

“He said he takes this personal,” Garfield said. “It’s not right, and he knew how important that gift was.”

The Garfields say they were stunned and grateful to have the special present returned safely.

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