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Packages from deployed sailor stolen from Seminole County family's home

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A Seminole County family said it will never be able to replace gifts shipped from a sailor halfway across the world, after a package was swiped from their front porch.

Surveillance video from a neighbor’s house shows a thief taking the package.

The sailor's brother, Brandon Oyler, said the crook took more than a piece of mail, because the box was the first contact from his sister in more than a month.

Sanford police are investigating the theft.

Oyler said the package his sister had shipped from Dubai to the home on Elm Avenue near French Strett was full of presents for her younger siblings and the rest of her family.

“It honestly made me pretty mad. Especially, you know, you don’t expect it,” Oyler said. “(He) even walked through the front gate, closed the gate behind him.”

Oyler reported the stolen package to police, but said he doesn’t know what was inside.

“When someone’s deployed and you don’t know what it is, it sucks,” Oyler said.

Sanford police said the investigation is ongoing.