LAKEVILLE — About 80 Amazon packages were discovered by a Lakeville police sergeant in a wooded area early Sunday, Dec. 22, Lakeville Police Chief Matthew Perkins reported..

Sgt. Shawn Robert was on routine patrol at about 2 a.m. when he noticed items unattended in a wooded area near 63 Bedford St., the chief said. After investigating further, he determined they were three large totes full of Amazon packages that were spread out several feet into the woods.

Police officers loaded the totes onto a pickup truck and brought them back to the Lakeville Police Department, where they inventoried about 80 packages, Perkins said.

Police do not have any reports that the packages were stolen or misplaced, so they contacted a local Amazon distribution center in Middleboro and returned them.

It is unclear why the packages were left along the side of the road in this wooded area that leads to an industrial area, Perkins reported. Lakeville Police are investigating the incident.

"I would like to commend Sgt. Shawn Robert for his discovery of these unattended packages while on routine patrol," Perkins said. He “likely saved a Christmas headache for many local residents by noticing these totes and getting them back to Amazon, hopefully in time for a holiday delivery."