Porch piracy isn’t a minor inconvenience anymore. Practically everyone has experienced it, and it’s a nuisance that turns convenient online shopping into a gamble. If you’re tired of replacing things you lost to petty criminals, these strategies can help you fight back and keep your packages where they belong.
Get a Deliveries Box
Porch piracy is largely a crime of opportunity. If a thief can easily see a package on your stoop or driveway, that means they can also easily swipe it in seconds. Simply hiding the packages you have delivered can go a long way to combating the problem. Get an inexpensive deck box for near your front door, and most package handlers will know to put the items in there. If you’ve had packages stolen consistently, you may want to invest in a package box that locks.
Have It Delivered Somewhere Else
It might seem obvious, but the only sure way to keep a package from being stolen off your property is to not have it delivered to your property at all. There are actually a lot of options where you can have a package delivered, and some may work for you:
- Work
- The store you’re ordering from (bonus if in-store pickup is free)
- USPS Hold for Pickup service at your local post office
- Amazon Lockers and other hubs
- UPS Access Point locations
Set Up a Camera
Video doorbells and security cameras are great tools to dissuade would-be package thieves to move on to the next target. And if they still do decide to swipe your package, you at least have some video evidence if you need to file a police report or prove that you didn’t get the package with the seller or bank.
Track the Package
Pay close attention to the tracking information given to you by the seller. Most will say when they’re out for delivery in the morning, so you can at least know which day they’re coming, hopefully avoiding your package sitting outside for hours or even days. If the package is particularly valuable or important, sign up for the shipper’s tracking alert emails or texts, if available. Then you’ll know exactly when it gets delivered.
Install Motion Sensor Lights
Keeping your property well lit will help deter some would-be porch pirates. Motion sensor flood lights, especially, will make a big difference if someone is trying to swipe a package in the dark. If they’re no longer under the cover of darkness, it’s no longer an easy crime of opportunity.
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Put a Note for the Delivery Person
Practically all the big shipping companies now have a field where you can leave a note for the delivery person. Leave simple, short instructions to leave the package in the delivery box, or behind a large planter on your stoop, or on the other side of a backyard fence, for example. Usually, delivery people are happy to oblige.
Schedule the Delivery and Sign For It
Special options like scheduling the delivery for a time when you know you’ll be home and requiring a signature for delivery may only be available with high-value items, but that’s exactly when you need it most. You don’t want your new 75-inch TV in a box that advertises exactly what’s inside sitting on your steps while you’re still at work.
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