More than a third of Americans have been victims of porch pirates at least once according to ADT, but why? It’s an ideal crime of opportunity and if the item on your porch happens to be expensive or very popular, then it also has high resale value.
Over the past few years, there's been a tremendous increase in online shopping and that's made package theft a high value crime. For instance, in a recent report, Security.org revealed that package thieves stole over $8 billion dollars worth of online orders last year and each package was worth an average of $222.
While some may consider package theft a more minor crime, it's becoming such a large scale issue that some lawmakers are moving to make it a federal crime akin to tampering with postal mail. Though most online retailers have a system in place for when packages go missing, you still have to spend your time going through the process and waiting for a replacement or refund.
A replacement or refund also won't work in certain situations like having your kids present in time for Christmas. The point is, you ordered something online to have it arrive at your house because you needed it, so let's make sure all your packages arrive safely. Here are some recommended steps you can take to stop porch pirates for good ahead of the holidays
Banish porch pirates: Actions you can take
There are a few ways to keep your house from looking attractive to porch pirates: keep bushes and foliage cut back from the porch to keep shadows and dark areas to a minimum, and make sure that you're not letting bulbs burn out in porch lights or in the lights in your yard.
Next, if you have a regular delivery driver get to know them. You can ask them to leave packages in a spot that's out of sight from passerby's and they may notice if someone is keeping watch on your house, too. Also, get to know your neighbors, if possible, either in person or online so you can watch out for each other, especially when it gets closer to major shopping holidays when you're expecting more deliveries.
If you know you'll be expecting a lot of packages, or a particularly important package, consider having it shipped to the store location. UPS or FedEx will often allow customers to pick up at store locations. Likewise, many offices may allow you to have a package delivered at your workplace if there's a mailroom that can keep your parcel, and information, secure. But you'll need to ask the appropriate people about those policies first.
When making an order, you can request that a signature be required upon delivery. That means that unless someone is home to sign for the package, it won't be delivered — and it certainly won't be left unattended on your stoop. However, that obviously means someone will have to be home to receive it which may be a different issue.
The last option is a package receiving service. You can sign up with a major delivery company for a rental locker; USPS deliveries can often be held at a local post office as well. They will typically charge a monthly fee for a secure locker located near you where you can have packages delivered. This could be a convenient option if it's close enough to where you live or work but would still require you to pick the package up and get it home.
Banish porch pirates: Products you can buy
There are dozens of products available to solve the porch pirate problem, some that may work better for your household than others. And some that may work together to help make your porch a less attractive target. Here are some things to start outfitting your porch to make it more secure.
