Baby stroller bandits strike again in Richmond’s Museum District, steal $1,200 stroller

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Porch pirates usually target packages, but some neighbors living in Richmond’s Museum District said thieves have been targeting something different in the past few weeks — baby strollers!

John Cain’s family of five got an unpleasant surprise at around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 20 when their Ring-door-bell camera captured a person stealing their $1,200 Uppababy Vista double stroller off their front porch on West Grace Street.

In the video footage, the person is seen wearing a bright blue puffer jacket. After stealing the stroller from the front porch, they quickly walk down the stairs and exit to the right of the camera.

“My first reaction was I was disappointed. That’s like taking candy from a baby, maybe even worse,” Cain said. “I’m half asleep. I bolt down the stairs, and out the front door. Just ran down to the boulevard. Didn’t find this person. This just happened like literally two minutes after the whole thing happened.”

However, this isn’t the first time a stroller was stolen on West Grace Street. Last month, a man stole another young family’s $500 baby stroller down the street. A couple days ago, a kind man named Jimmie Williams found the stroller in a parking garage near Richmond Dairy Apartments.

Cain told 8News after the theft happened, he posted the video on social media to warn other neighbors.

“We kind of look out for one another. And after this happened, I was walking my dog down the street and I told this gentleman, ‘Hey, someone stole our stroller. I would put yours inside until we figure this out,’” Cain said.

From Jan. 1st through March 3rd of this year, there has been a total of 1,613 property crimes in the city, with 147 of those crimes being thefts from buildings.

Cain reported the theft to police and understands there is a slim chance of getting the baby stroller back, but he wanted to give this message to the thief.

“It’s not too late. Please return it. We need it. We’ve got three kids. My hands are full. So, you know, if you return it, no hard feelings,” Cain said.