UPDATE 8:00pm
The Seattle Police Department provided details on their apprehension of four alleged "Package Thieves" on Friday Dec. 7 in a Seattle Police Blotter post by Detective Jeff Kappel.

"A group of roving Christmas package thieves were apprehended today in West Seattle thanks to an eagle-eyed patrol officer. At approximately 11:43 a.m. a victim called 911 to report a male suspect who had just stolen a UPS package from the front porch of her house in the 10000 block of 30th Avenue SW. The suspect got into a white Toyota van occupied by additional suspects and fled the scene. Another package theft from a residence in the 1700 block of Sunset Avenue SW was reported at approximately 3:30 p.m. In that incident a female suspect was seen stealing the package and getting into the same white van.
Minutes after the second incident took place an officer on patrol spotted the suspect vehicle near 16th Avenue SW and SW Roxbury Street and conducted a traffic stop.

There were four suspects on board the Toyota van, three adult males and one adult female. Additional officers and a sergeant responded to the scene and all four suspects were detained while officers tried to locate witnesses and victims. The victim from the first theft responded to the scene and positively identified three of the occupants of the van, one being the suspect who actually took the package from her porch.

All four suspects were arrested and transported to the Southwest Precinct where they were interviewed by officers. Following the interviews all four suspects were booked into the King County Jail for theft and outstanding warrants.
Several packages were recovered and returned to their rightful owners.

Investigating officers could see a pile of miscellaneous items in the van that could not be positively identified. The van was impounded and taken to the evidence garage. It will be searched and examined further after officers obtain a search warrant.

This remains an active and on-going investigation.

ORIGINAL POST
Seattle Police "caught the grinch" today after arresting four people suspected of package thefts from a private residence after a delivery truck had dropped it off. The home is on the 10000 block of 30th Ave. SW.

The police got tips and pulled over a white van at 16th and Roxbury and arrested four suspects.

Reader Jill Gagner said she was the person victimized in the incident and reported via Facebook:

"So the kids got to meet a cop today.
Why you ask?
Because some bum ass people Decided to follow the UPS truck and steal packages roughly 30-45 seconds after they are dropped onto the recipient's doorstep. Our doorstep being one of them. I hear a knock, look and see UPS. I was drying my
Hands(washing them), go to door, open it, see thieves in white van, actual package snatcher jumping into van, van seeing me at open door, van peeling off. I never like to involve police.... But dammnit, you stole my babies' Xmas gifts. THAT'S WHAT YOU NOT GON' DO.

Apparently, these guys are following the truck and immediately jumping out to jack the packages when the truck is pulling away. I'm kinda pissed at UPS for having a completely oblivious employee. I'm super heated with the van of sticky fingers. I can't exactly replace hundreds of dollars worth of gifts on such short notice. This is gonna sound horrible, but I hope the police catch them and for some reason are provoked to go straight LAPD on their ass. I gave a good description. I totally am saying a Hail Mary for them to get caught. You can't take toys from a baby.

Then in a later post after she gave her descriptions:

WE CAUGHT THEM!!!!
I just got back from identifying them @ 15th and Roxbury. They are now headed to jail.... all because they wanted to steal a package worth $20(my expensive one arrived safely).

Gagner went on to say:

"They were trailing the delivery truck for some time. I'm most positive I'm not the only person/residence that had a package stolen. If you can, WSH, post something for others that may have been stolen from. The police are in the process of executing a search warrant for the van. You can call, give you name and description of possible package stolen(name on package, items, where they were purchased, etc.)"