Porch Pirate arrest leads to additional felony charges

Photographs courtesy of Gwinnett County Police Department

(Gwinnett County, Ga., Dec 2, 2024) – Gwinnett County reports that a porch piracy arrest has led to controlled substance charges.

According to a press release from GCPD, on Nov. 26, officers assigned to our the Precinct Community Response Team were following up on multiple complaints of package thefts in the area of 1500 Laurel Crossing Parkway in Buford. Officers were able to identify Kyle Thomas Witzel, 36, of Buford as the alleged suspect on surveillance video stealing packages from the community mail room. Officers made contact with the suspect, who lives in the same apartment complex where the thefts were occurring and Witzel was arrested without incident. A subsequent search of the suspect’s apartment led officers to recover multiple stolen packages as well as large amounts of marijuana and anabolic steroids.

Witzel is currently booked into the Gwinnett County Jail charged with three counts of theft by taking, porch piracy, possession of a Schedule III controlled substance, possession of drug-related objects, and possession of marijuana more than 1 ounce. The investigation is still ongoing, and additional charges might be forthcoming.

If anyone has any information to share in this case, they are asked to contact GCPD detectives at 770.513.5300.  To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404.577.TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com.  Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.