Accused KC porch pirate charged with 6 felonies; officials urge holiday caution
A man accused of stealing packages from a group of Kansas City homes dating back to September has been charged with six felonies, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Prosecutors charged Curtis D. Bennett, 34, of Kansas City, with six counts of stealing a postal or delivery item in Jackson County Circuit Court on Friday. Bennett is being held on a $3,000 bond.
Using surveillance video, Kansas City police linked Bennett to four victims who reported packages worth more than $1,100 had been stolen from their homes, according to court documents. After police found him, Bennett allegedly admitted to stealing the packages.
“We take package theft seriously because we understand our community works hard each day to be able to purchase holiday gifts and everyday necessities for their families,” Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said in a statement. “We’re committed to holding these repeat offenders accountable, but we need the community’s help to bring these cases to our office.”
The first victim reported an incident in which three packages were taken from their front porch on Sept 10. Others were reported on Nov. 20. Values of the stolen items ranged from around $120 up to about $635, according to court documents.
Officers who were searching the area of one of the thefts saw two men, one of whom was identified as Bennett, carrying boxes. Police said Bennett dropped a package before he was taken into custody and that the package had been reported stolen.
Johnson urged residents to take proactive steps to protect their deliveries and install surveillance cameras around their homes, which she said can provide critical evidence for investigations. Those expecting packages should consider having a friend or neighbor pick up items or have them delivered to a post office, pickup locker or workplace if they won’t be home when the item is delivered, she said.
“If you believe your package or mail was stolen, report it immediately to your local law enforcement agency and provide any video or photo evidence,” Johnson said. “It’s crucial to report these crimes. Unless these cases reach our desk, we cannot do our job, prosecute, and protect our community.”
This story was originally published November 25, 2025 at 12:35 PM.
