US Police officer's wife caught on camera stealing Christmas presents from neighbour's front porch

The thief was identified after surveillance video was uploaded to Facebook

A US police officer's wife has confessed to stealing Christmas presents after being caught on camera plucking them from outside her neighbour's front door.

42-year-old porch-pirate Dana Hager, from Lakeland, Florida, was captured on surveillance video driving up to her neighbour's house, walking to the front door and taking the brown packages that were left there.

The neighbour, Megan Zawacki, was inside the house at the time of the theft with her two-year-old daughter, according to an affidavit.

Ms Zawacki claimed she saw a shadow pass the window before immediately consulting the surveillance footage.

She then posted the video to Facebook where many identified the suspect as Hager, including a colleague of the officer's wife.

Hager's husband is a police sergeant in Haines City, which made the crime "even more shocking", according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

Authorities report that Hager was arrested on Monday and charged with unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling, petit theft and violation of probation.

The sheriff's office added that she returned the presents in a plastic bag early on Monday because "she started feeling bad."

The total value of the items she stole is believed to be $30 (£20).