A Canadian woman allegedly intercepted a FedEx delivery containing $43,549 in gold and silver, convinced the driver the package belonged to her and flew to Arizona later that same day.
Kaileigh Hogan, 25, of Ontario, is now facing three felony charges in Pennsylvania following an investigation by Bensalem Township Police.
Police say the May 11 theft happened while the intended recipient was waiting for the valuable shipment. A member of the victim’s family watched as a woman later identified as Hogan allegedly claimed ownership of the package, signed for it and left.
Investigators eventually obtained an arrest warrant and alerted U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Hogan was taken into custody July 5 while attempting to cross into Canada at Lewiston, New York.
Cameras Traced the Package to a Rental Car
The investigation began May 11 when Bensalem Township Police responded to a report of a stolen FedEx package. The victim was expecting a shipment of gold and silver valued at $43,549.
Police said a family member saw Hogan allegedly tell the delivery driver that the package belonged to her, sign for it and leave the area. Detectives then used intersection cameras, license plate readers and other surveillance footage to identify the vehicle involved as a Nissan sedan.
Investigators traced the car to Enterprise Rent-A-Car at Philadelphia International Airport and determined Hogan had rented it on May 10, the day before the alleged theft.
She Was Arrested While Trying to Enter Canada
After the package was taken, police say Hogan returned the Nissan to Philadelphia International Airport. She then boarded a flight to Arizona that same day. Police subsequently obtained a warrant charging Hogan with second-degree felony forgery, third-degree felony theft by unlawful taking and third-degree felony theft by deception.
Because Hogan was a Canadian citizen in the United States on a visa, Bensalem detectives notified U.S. Customs and Border Protection about the outstanding warrant. On July 5, Bensalem police were notified that Hogan had been taken into custody while attempting to cross into Canada at Lewiston, New York.
The Bucks County Sheriff’s Office transported her from New York to Bensalem Township Police Headquarters on July 31 for arraignment. Magisterial District Judge Michael Gallagher set bail at 10% of $1 million. Hogan was then remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility.
Police Have Not Said Whether the Gold and Silver Were Recovered
The FOX 10 Phoenix report and Bensalem Police announcement do not state what happened to the precious metals after the May 11 delivery. Authorities have not publicly said whether any of the gold or silver was recovered, sold or transferred to another person.
Hogan has been charged but not convicted. The accusations against her remain allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
High-Value Deliveries Can Be Held at a Secure Location
A signature requirement can add protection to an expensive shipment, but people expecting unusually valuable packages should also monitor tracking closely and know exactly when and where the delivery is scheduled. FedEx offers several signature options, including direct and adult-signature services for eligible shipments.
For additional security, FedEx allows eligible packages to be redirected through Delivery Manager and held at a FedEx location for pickup. FedEx Hold at Location requires the recipient to bring identifying information when collecting a package and avoids leaving a high-value delivery dependent on a residential handoff.
Anyone expecting precious metals, jewelry, collectibles or another unusually valuable shipment should also preserve the tracking number, delivery notifications, purchase records and surveillance footage if a package disappears. A recipient who sees someone else taking a package should avoid a potentially dangerous confrontation and instead immediately contact the carrier and local police while providing descriptions of the person, vehicle and direction of travel.