WATCH: Fat squirrel steals pricey goods left out for NJ delivery drivers

Maplewood, NJ (AP) - Michele Boudreaux, of Maplewood, New Jersey, said on her blog she provides candy, snacks, tissues, hand warmers and other goodies on her doorstep every year.

She never had any issues before, but this year, her basket was raided within hours of being set outside her home.

The thief seemed to be targeting the priciest stuff, including about 25 squares of Ghirardelli chocolate, she said.

The family set up a surveillance camera to see what was going on and spotted the overweight varmint standing on a step stool, digging through the stash Tuesday.

"I mean, this squirrel is so obese - a jolly ol' chap - he must be prepping for a decade of winters," Boudreaux wrote.

Her husband tried to chase it to see where it was hoarding all the treats, but it made a clean getaway.

Boudreaux said she stumbled upon the thieving rodent in the act Wednesday, and recorded it taking more chocolate and a Carmex lip balm.

They've devised the perfect solution to the problem.

"We now have our chocolate in a jar that requires opposable thumbs," she wrote.

The shenanigans "brought my family so much joy," she told the AP Thursday.