POOLESVILLE ---  (Dec. 22, 2008)  Montgomery County Police report that on Tuesday, December 16, officers from the Montgomery County Police 5th District were alerted to the theft of holiday packages that had been delivered to the front porch of a residence in Poolesville. A 13-year-old boy who witnessed the theft was able to provide police with a description of the suspects and the vehicle in which they fled the scene. Officers were able to locate the suspects and recover the packages, not only for that family, but packages meant for other families as well.

At approximately 3:31 p.m. on December 16, officers responded to the 18400 block of Cattail Road in Poolesville for the report of a theft. They learned that two unknown male suspects driving a black Volkswagon had driven down the home’s long driveway. They left, but returned a short time later, and the suspect in the passenger seat got out of the car and stole a package from the front porch. It was learned that the package had contained two laptop computers valued over $1200. The theft was witnessed by a juvenile who was able to get the license number of the vehicle to provide to police.

At approximately 4:53 p.m. a 5th District officer observed the Volkswagon with the matching tags at the intersection of Wootton Avenue and Hughes Road. The car was occupied by two men matching the description of the suspects. Officers stopped the vehicle at Routes 28 and 118. During the stop, the stolen property was seen in plain view. The boxes had been opened and the victims’ address was seen on the box.

Also found inside the car were: A package containing an American Girl doll crib and mobile for a resident in the 19500 block of Wootton Avenue in Poolesville, a Wii for another resident in the 19500 block of Wootton Avenue, and a package containing a cookbook and CD for a residence in the 17600 block of Kohlhoss Road in Poolesville, and a package containing a Nintendo and other gifts for a residence in the 17100 block of Spates Hill Road in Poolesville. A UPS delivery uniform was also found inside the car. It was later learned that one of the suspects, Alfredo Moran, had been issued the uniform because he was to begin work for UPS the week of December 21. He has now been fired.

The officers were able to return all of the gifts to their rightful owners. Montgomery County Police want to caution all community members who are receiving delivered gifts during this holiday season to bring them inside as soon as possible. If residents are not at home, try to make arrangement with a neighbor to bring in gifts as soon as possible after delivery.

The suspects: Alfredo Moran, age 19, of the 200 block of W. Deer Park Road in Gaithersburg, and Luis Enrique Escurra-backus, age 23, of the same block address, were charged with theft over $500, felony theft scheme, felony conspiracy to commit theft and four additional charges of theft under $500. Moran was released after payment of a $2500 bond, and Escurra-backus was released after payment of a $5,000 bond.