Deputies: Accused porch pirate leaves apology note

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Deputies are searching for a suspected porch pirate who they say stole packages, and then returned them with an apology note. 

The man was caught on camera both times he walked up to the Kissimmee home.  The first time he appeared was last week, when investigators say he looked at several packages near the door before grabbing two and leaving. 

“You would think, ‘Oh I shouldn’t steal from this house especially because they have a camera right at me,’” said Franklin Fermin, who lives in the home. 

Fermin says the packages were for his family members – items like a bathing suit and purse. 

Deputies shared photos of the suspect with the media Wednesday to try and track him down. They wonder if he saw himself on TV or social media and decided to go back. 

“Whatever came to mind - second thoughts, some remorse or he just doesn’t want to go to jail. He returned the property and also left an apology letter to the victim,” Said Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Major Jacob Ruiz. 

Fermin shared a photo of the handwritten letter with the News Station. It takes up an entire page. The writer says he’s sorry. He says he didn’t go to the house intending to steal and that a friend dared him to do it. He says he prays to God that the victim can forgive him. 

“If he was really sorry he should like return all of the packages instead of some of them,” said Fermin, who notes some of their stuff is still missing. 

The alleged thief’s name is also missing from the note. And despite the bold gesture, deputies say they still want to find him. 

“We ask for him to turn himself in,” Ruiz said. 

Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect is asked to contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at 407-348-2222 or Crime Line at 1-800-423-TIPS