Packages taken from doorsteps; fraud scam swindles over $24K

The following incidents were taken from the City of Charleston Police Department’s crime reports within Team 5, which covers Daniel Island, Clements Ferry Road, and parts of Cainhoy, between Dec. 1-15.  

CREDIT CARD FRAUD 

On Dec. 4, a resident of Etiwan Park Street reported that on Nov. 26, he received a text alert from a bank to verify whether a charge on his account was valid, to which he responded the charge was not. Between the timeframe of Nov. 27-30, 27 fraudulent charges were made on the account to a variety of vendors, including a grocery store, a pharmacy, two convenience stores, a fast-food restaurant, and a digital bank app, totaling $24,644. Additionally, bank transfers were made from the victim's other bank accounts totaling more than $7,100 to cover the fraudulent charges. The account has been closed, and fraudulent charges are being investigated.  

LARCENY 

A package theft was reported on Sawyer Circle on Dec. 9. The victim advised that she had three packages stolen over the past week. A package from a cosmetic vendor containing products valued at $300 was removed on Dec. 3, then on Dec. 9, two more packages were taken after delivery, worth approximately $155. Proof of delivery was provided for all three packages. Police are reviewing camera footage captured at a neighboring apartment that showed an individual wearing a hoodie and carrying packages up the stairs. The investigation continues. 

On Dec. 11, a resident of Inlet Avenue told police a bench was stolen from his patio. While police were investigating, a witness was located who saw two individuals moving a long white bench out of the door of the apartment building, which is closest to the victim’s front door.  There was no visible damage to the apartment that would indicate forced entry to the door leading to the patio. 

An officer responded to Blakeway Street on Dec. 12 regarding a theft of a delivery. The victim ordered a computer tablet online valued at $350 and received notification that the item had been delivered at 10:30 a.m. When the complainant arrived at home, the package was gone. Police said a door camera showed an individual using a leaf blower in front of the residence. At 10:52 a.m., the footage showed the individual walking away from her door with the package. An investigation is underway.  

TRAFFIC ARREST 

An officer was patrolling the area of Clements Ferry Road near the I-526 overpass on Dec. 14 when he observed a pickup truck that failed to maintain its lane of travel. Contact was made with the driver, who had a suspended driver’s license due to a driving under the influence conviction. The individual also had an administrative warrant from the United States issued by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, for failure to appear for removal, dated Feb. 21, 2025. Officers issued a warning for the traffic infraction and placed the suspect into custody for driving under suspension. The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement was notified of the arrest and provided officers with an email containing his photograph to verify his identity. He was booked and housed at the Berkeley County Detention Center.