HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A package worth thousands of dollars in silver coins never made it to the person who bought it.<\/p>\n
The Houston Police Department said someone else stepped in, showed a delivery driver a fake ID, and walked away with it.<\/p>\n
Now, police have arrested that person and are tying him to similar thefts across our area.<\/p>\n
A FedEx driver was stopped along his route by someone asking about a package headed to an address in Spring Branch.<\/p>\n
But HPD said that’s what happened when 28-year-old Artur Kryvytskyi showed the driver an ID that matched the name on the package and left with it.<\/p>\n
Except, it wasn’t his. The package was meant for Alan Smith.<\/p>\n
Smith said that in July, he ordered silver coins to be delivered to the business where he works.<\/p>\n
“I got a notification from FedEx on Monday that it had been delivered here and signed for,” Smith said. “It turned out that it didn’t arrive.”<\/p>\n
Smith said he saw the FedEx driver later that week and found out how his package disappeared.<\/p>\n
“The driver foolishly handed it over to this person, and he thought nothing more of it,” Smith said.<\/p>\n
Police said this wasn’t a one-off case.<\/p>\n
Investigators said Kryvytskyi is connected to similar theft investigations in Fort Bend and Montgomery counties.<\/p>\n
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office said he allegedly stole a FedEx package headed to a resident with nearly $17,400 worth of gold and silver coins.<\/p>\n
Kryvytskyi was ultimately arrested last week at his home in The Woodlands, where law enforcement says they found more stolen items.<\/p>\n
He now faces multiple charges from different agencies, including Fraudulent Use of an ID and Theft.<\/p>\n
“I’m actually appreciative of the system here that they actually did catch the guy and that the FedEx driver did not get falsely accused,” Smith said.<\/p>\n
Smith said thankfully, his purchase was insured and he was reimbursed.<\/p>\n
But even with his money back, he’s still left with unanswered questions.<\/p>\n
“The next step would be to find out if he had associates,” Smith said. “And to whom he is selling this stuff? That’s another step.”<\/p>\n
Law enforcement said the investigation has expanded throughout the country for similar thefts.<\/p>\n
They said they believe there may be additional victims.<\/p>\n
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