Woman returning to her west Olympia apartment ran into ‘porch pirate,’ police say
A 25-year-old woman returning to her west Olympia apartment late last month encountered a man stealing packages delivered to her and other residents in the building, according to police.
About 11 a.m. March 26, the woman returned to her home in the 1200 block of Fern Street Southwest and saw the so-called “porch pirate” taking the packages, Olympia police Lt. Paul Lower said.
She yelled at the man to put them down, but he rushed at her, lowered a shoulder and knocked the woman down, Lower said.
Two Olympia police officers then were called to the scene. While they interviewed the victim, the suspect was spotted walking down the street with a woman.
The victim pointed out the suspect to police, and one of the officers went over to question him, then took him into custody.
The 34-year-old Tenino man was arrested on suspicion of second-degree robbery because he used force to knock the woman down, Lower said.
It was not clear if the packages were recovered.
This story was originally published April 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
