Police: Woman Stole Packages to Get Kids Christmas Gifts

In all, police say they found 60 different items, valued at $2,800

A Whitman, Massachusetts, woman accused of stealing packages off of the front steps of South Shore homes allegedly told police she wanted to get Christmas gifts for her kids.

Kathy Lyden, 42, was arrested less than a week before Christmas after she allegedly stole dozens of postal packages from the doorsteps and yards of homes throughout Abington and Whitman.

Police were first notified of the thefts by a witness who reportedly saw a tan or brown pickup truck parked outside his home. Shortly after, he realized a package had been taken from his front steps. Police were able to identify the truck and traced it back to Lyden’s home.

In all, police say they found 60 different items, valued at $2,800, at Lyden's home in Whitman. When the officers tried to arrest her, Lyden struck the officers with her fists. They were forced to use a taser on her before taking her into custody. Police say she has four children and told investigators she was trying to provide Christmas gifts.

Aside from larceny, Lyden was arraigned on one count of resisting arrest and two counts of assault and battery on a police officer. She was ordered held without bail while she waits for her trial for charges of drug possession. The court also requested an additional $3,000 bail based on her new offenses. Lyden was also ordered not have contact with the victims or homes associated with the packages involved in this case.

Lyden pleaded not guilty to the charges and is scheduled to appear in court on January 11, 2017.

Police are hoping to return all the stolen packages to their rightful owners in the next couple of days and before Christmas.

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