Many complaints were unrelated to porch pirates, but many were a result of theft. As we continue to battle COVID-19 and head into the holiday season, here are a few tips to combat porch pirates:
Schedule Your Packages
After you’ve purchased your items, check your email for status updates. Most delivery services provide tracking details where you can stay up to date. In addition to email alerts, you may also sign up for text alerts from your delivery provider. If you have the option, schedule packages to arrive at a time you know you'll be home. Once you receive your items, break down and immediately destroy the package and shipping boxes into small pieces. You don’t want to notify any potential thieves of your new belongings.
Home Safety
After all of the shopping, you’re eager to wrap your presents. Remember to avoid placing gifts in an area that may be visible from the outside of your home. While you may want to display your holiday decorations in a window, think again. A burglar may peer into your window and see your newly wrapped – and potentially expensive – gifts. If you’re traveling for the holidays, ask a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor to check in on your house. Don't forget — if you're buying a lot of gifts online, keep an eye out for fraud on your credit cards and potential identity theft.
Technology is Your Friend
There are many easy and convenient tools to help you protect your deliveries. To combat porch pirating, companies have created PVC reinforced nylon bags that can lock to your front door handle or gate. Delivery people can put the package inside the bag, then lock it to something on your property using the combination lock on the bag. Ranging from $20-$40, a product like this may be a good investment if you experience porch pirating frequently. There are also many smart home devices that are currently available on the market to help combat this problem. Smart security cameras and doorbell cameras are a great way to keep an eye on your home and your packages while you’re away. Using these devices, you will be able to see any activity going on outside of your home, and possibly even be notified when motion is detected. It may also be a good idea to make it known that you have cameras on the property so that porch pirates think twice about swiping your packages.
Additional Safety Tips
After you receive your packages or any sensitive mail, consider shredding the envelope or taking the labels off that contain your name and address, as this can provide porch thieves with more information about you. Avoid leaving boxes from high-end items like computers or flat-screen TVs outside. This can incentivize thieves to break in and steal the item. Break down these boxes and keep them in a non-obvious location until you are able to recycle or dispose of them.
This summary is for general informational use only and may not include all relevant information.
