How To Avoid Becoming the Victim of "Porch Pirates"



Rather than deal with the hustle and bustle of shopping malls and department stores, people are now able to perform all of their holiday shopping with one click from the comfort of their own homes. Unfortunately, the gifts don’t always make it to their intended recipients, as packages have continued to disappear mysteriously from doorsteps and patios across the country. No, it’s not the Grinch trying to steal Christmas, but rather the actions of what’s become known as “porch pirates.” According to a recent study by research company Safewise, 260 million packages — collectively worth an estimated $19.5 billion — have already been stolen from porches across the country in the last 11 months. Some cities are taking drastic measures to address the issue, including allowing residents use police stations as a drop-off points. For example, the Van Alstyne Police Department in Texas allows residents to have their packages delivered to the police station 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Residents need only to show up and present valid I.D. to pick up their packages. Other than that, there are a few other ways to avoid becoming the victim of porch pirates. 

 

  1. 1. One of the most effective methods is the popular video doorbell. Even if it doesn’t keep your packages from being stolen, you’ll get an alert and the thief will be captured on video. 
  2. 2. Another method is picking a delivery date, which allows you to have packages delivered when you know you’ll be home. Amazon, UPS and FedEX are also able to alert you when you have received a delivery. 
  3. 3. Another way to ensure that your packages will be securely waiting for you when you get home is to invest in a secure delivery box, such as The Elephantrunk Parcel Drop. Deliveries are placed in the top of the box, then lowered into a locked chamber only accessible by the owner. 
  4. 4. If you don’t want your own lockbox, you can always have packages delivered to an Amazon locker. Once your package has arrived, you’ll receive a notification. 
  5. 5. Of course, there’s the old standby of having packages delivered to a family member, friend, or even a neighbor who is will to accept them until you can retrieve them.