📦 Packages in peril | Morning Newsletter

It’s Friday, Philly.

Good news for snow lovers: Forecasters say the city could see its first measurable amount of the season over the weekend.

So-called porch pirates continue to strike in the city and beyond. Our top story is an Inquirer analysis that shows how package theft reports have stacked up this year.

Farther down, hear how a chain restaurant and longtime Sixers hangout transformed into one of Philadelphia’s hottest “clubs.”

Scroll along for these stories and more to start your weekend.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Porch pirates are expected to be particularly active as gifts and other goodies pile up outside your house this month.

With this in mind, we looked into Philadelphia Police Department data to gauge the severity of the problem.

📦 Reported thefts are up 6% from January to November, compared with the same time period last year, according to an Inquirer analysis of police data.

📦 Reports spike every December, coinciding with a flurry of purchases over the holidays. Still, some incidents go unreported to law enforcement. These factors can make it difficult to project end-of-year totals.

📦 The crime goes beyond Philly, as suburban residents frequently vent about the issue on local Facebook groups.

Consumer reporter Erin McCarthy and graphics editor John Duchneskie explain their calculations, and share best practices to protect against porch piracy-related headaches this holiday season.

Hours-long wait times. Fans lined up around the block. Patrons dressed to the nines.

You’d think these excited partygoers were posted up for a Center City club, but we’re talking about the TGI Fridays on City Avenue.

Over the years, the chain restaurant was incorporated into the city’s nightlife scene with the help of Sixers legends like Allen Iverson, who transformed the spot into a destination.

It was the team’s unofficial hangout due to its proximity to where the Sixers practiced. But everything changed when Iverson, a rookie at the time, came to town.

Features sportswriter Alex Coffey has the story.

Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We’ll feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks.

This week, we have an explainer from reporter Nate File on how the city maintains the 109 flags that line the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, which were first installed in 1976 as part of the United States’ Bicentennial celebration.

The city’s department of public property aims to replace them twice a year, or as needed when a flag gets damaged. Here’s the full story.

Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.

The average commute in Philly takes longer than in most large U.S. cities — and it’s gotten slightly worse recently.

In 2024, how many minutes on average did commuters spend getting to work in the city?

A) 31.1 minutes

B) 33.2 minutes

C) 27.2 minutes

D) 45.5 minutes

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧸 Loving: A former Daily News sportswriter’s toy drive that gives South Philly kids the “Christmas they deserve.“

😮 Remembering: When Archbishop Ryan High School students were held hostage on this week in Philly history.

🍴 Following: What happened after a restaurant came clean about why the Health Department shut it down.

🫣 Confounded by: The half-naked man who stood — and shivered — on a box near the Liberty Bell.

📝 Considering: The role that the Department of Licenses and Inspections plays in Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s affordable housing plan.

Hint: Philadelphia-area infant who made international headlines this year

ABBY JK

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Sandy Homel, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Austin Davis. Several hospital-based anti-violence programs in the area received $3 million in state funding, as announced Wednesday by Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor.

Thanks for stopping by this morning. Have a great weekend.

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