Police Arrest Suspect in Package Thefts After Report from Alert Neighbors

arrested a Richmond woman Tuesday after neighbors identified her from a flier warning the community about a slew of package thefts from local homes. 

Community engagement specialist Karina Tindol, of the Albany Police Department, said a neighbor spotted Reba Perkins, 41, while he was watering his lawn Tuesday around 5 p.m. 

The man later told police he thought he recognized Perkins from about several reports of packages stolen from porches around the city. 

Shortly after he noticed the woman, his neighbor arrived home, and the two agreed that the woman looked like the Reba Perkins described in the flier. 

They followed her a short distance and called police immediately.

Police arrived and questioned Perkins near the Albany Library. They found her to have an outstanding warrant from the Alameda Police Department, and were able to search her because she is on probation in Contra Costa County. 

Perkins had with her a suitcase, and Tindol said Albany officers found mail in her possession belonging to Albany residents, as well as drug paraphernalia. 

"Definitely the alert neighbors did a great job remembering the flier and recognizing her and calling police right away," she said. "People often think something might be suspicious but they don't end up calling until it's too late."

Perkins is being held at Santa Rita Jail with a bail of $10,000. She was scheduled for arraignment Thursday, according to the Alameda County sheriff's department.

Residents can reach police if they see something suspicious by calling 510-525-7300. Neighbors who would like to learn about the city's Neighborhood Watch program can call at 510-528-5755, or email her at ktindol@albanyca.org.

If there's something in this article you think , or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at albany@patch.com.