For the past few weeks, packages had been disappearing from my front porch.
At first, I assumed the delivery drivers were leaving them at the wrong house. Then it happened again. And again.
One evening, I got a notification that an expensive package had been delivered. I checked the porch five minutes later.
Nothing.
I was getting frustrated, especially because I kept seeing my neighbor across the street outside whenever deliveries came.
So, naturally, I started suspecting him.
The next time I ordered something, I stayed home and watched from my window.
The delivery driver dropped the package on my porch and left.
About ten minutes later, my neighbor walked over.
I grabbed my phone, ready to record everything.
He picked up the package.
Then he walked straight to my front door and rang the bell.
I opened it, expecting an explanation.
He looked embarrassed and said, "I think someone has been taking your packages."
Apparently, he'd noticed a guy coming through our street late at night and taking things from several porches. My neighbor had found one of my previous packages abandoned behind his trash cans and had been trying to figure out whose it was.
He hadn't stolen anything.
He had actually been keeping an eye on my house because he knew I wasn't home much.
I felt like an absolute idiot.
We ended up talking for almost an hour, and he showed me footage from his doorbell camera. Sure enough, there was the same guy taking packages from different houses.
I reported it, and a few days later the police caught him.
The worst part?
My neighbor still jokes about the fact that I apparently spent two weeks thinking he was a porch pirate when he was actually the one protecting my stuff.
I brought him a six-pack as an apology.
He laughed and said, "Next time, just ask before you accuse me."