Man: Videos of ‘Grinch’ taking package from mailbox now on YouTube

A West Islip man is using YouTube to try and catch a “Grinch” who he said allegedly stole one of his son’s Christmas gifts.

David Young, 46, had just finished wrapping presents with his wife, Maryann, Sunday night, when he realized he was missing one item -- an iPhone case he purchased online for his son, Josh, 12. When Young pulled up the tracking information for the package on his computer, he learned it had been delivered on Friday morning at 9:55 a.m.

That information prompted Young to review the footage from his security cameras. He said the surveillance video showed a United States Postal Service truck pull up in front of his house shortly before 10 a.m., and the postal carrier placed the package inside Young’s mailbox.

Young kept watching, and 10 minutes later, he noticed another vehicle, a blue Chrysler, pull into his driveway.

In two clips that Young posted on YouTube Monday morning, each taken with different surveillance cameras stationed outside his home, the driver -- a woman with white hair -- is seen exiting her car and walking up to the Youngs’ front stoop.

The 22-second clip, titled “Another Christmas Grinch,” shows her reaching off-camera for something. In a 38-second video, named “Another Christmas Grinch 2,” the camera catches her returning to her car with a white package in hand. Then she drives away.

When Young saw the footage, he said he was in disbelief at first, then felt “intense anger.”

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“It’s such a crappy thing to do,” he said.

Donna Harris, a spokeswoman for the Postal Inspection Service's New York Division, said the Inspection Service is the lead agency in a joint investigation that is underway with Suffolk County police. Both Harris and a Suffolk police spokesperson said no arrests have been made.

Harris said her agency hasn't received any other reports of stolen packages in the area, but urges anyone who thinks they might be a victim to call their local police and the Postal Inspection Service's hotline at 877-876-2455.

To avoid becoming a victim, Harris said that anyone expecting a delivery should retrieve the package right away.

"Don't let it sit for any amount of time, even 15-20 minutes," Harris said. "If you know you're not going to be home, you can ask that they hold your mail at the post office or have a neighbor or family friend pick up the packages for you."

Young said he is hoping the YouTube videos, which already have more than 1,900 views combined, will help officials catch the culprit.

“I want her to be caught and to have to answer for what she’s done,” Young said.

He said he’s less concerned about the stolen item, which was valued around $80, and more about other families, especially those with young children, who might be missing Christmas packages.

“That kid is going to be disappointed,” he said.

Readers on mobile devices can watch the videos at http://bit.ly/1hCgd6s and http://bit.ly/1c4XV8i.