In the middle of the afternoon, you receive a text message telling you that the package you’ve been waiting for has been delivered. You are pumped. The vendor included a photo of the package in front of your door along with the delivery time. But when you arrive home, there is no sign of the package and tracking information is useless because after all, it was delivered! It quickly sinks in that your package has been stolen.
Unfortunately, recent studies reveal a surge in package thefts across all neighborhoods, with 35% of Americans falling victim to porch pirates in 2022, and 41% in 2024.1 This trend has left many people feeling vulnerable and seeking new ways to protect their deliveries.
While stealing mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service is a federal crime, theft of packages delivered by other carriers, such as UPS, isn’t, and some claim the penalties aren’t stiff enough to be a deterrent. These incidents are considered crimes of opportunity, and the best way to protect packages is by taking preventative measures. Here are some tips to decrease the chances of having your packages stolen.
Package Tracking
Tracking numbers are a valuable tool for knowing when a package will arrive on your doorstep. Use this tool to ensure you are home or ask a neighbor or family member to watch for the package during the delivery window.
Schedule Delivery
If you can choose a delivery time or day, pick one when you know you will be at home.
Signature Required
Requesting someone sign for a package eliminates the item being left on the doorstep unattended.
Out of Sight
In the delivery instructions, ask that deliveries be placed out of view from street foot traffic. These locations include a side door, or areas obscured by the landscape.
Pick Up Locations
Instead of having the package delivered directly to your home, choose a pickup location. Amazon offers lockers and counter pick up at Whole Food stores; UPS has access points at Staples and other places where you can pick-up and drop off; and other carriers also have similar hubs. Some USPS locations will hold parcels at the post office. Many retailers also have a ship to store pick up option.
Use a Different Address
Another option is to have parcels delivered to your workplace or to a friend or relative who you know will be home. If you live in an apartment complex, ask if having packages delivered to the complex’s office or lobby is an option.
The next set of suggestions for preventing theft involves some cost.
Porch Lockbox
A porch lockbox typically is equipped with a lock and key or a combination lock, ensuring only the owner can retrieve the packages. Some models have mail slots, while others require the carrier to use a key or a code to open the box. They are weather-resistant and usually large enough to accommodate various size packages.
A similar but usually more affordable option is a porch pirate bag. Like the lockbox, it has a combination lock and is made of weather resistant material. The downside to a bag is that it can be cut through to access the packages.
Doorbell Cameras
Doorbell cameras discourage porch pirates by providing a visible deterrent, capturing footage of potential thieves approaching your property, and allowing you to monitor activity at your doorstep. Features you should look for when using a doorbell camera include:
If you choose to use a different type of security camera, make sure it is strategically located to obtain a good view of the doorstep. Also place the signs and decals that come with these systems in key locations so a potential thief will know they are being watched.
You may want to add motion lights to your security system as further discouragement of package theft.
Mailbox sensors
Similar to a doorbell camera, a mailbox sensor is a device that detects motion or package arrival. It can send an alert to your phone, a receiver in your home, or an alarm on your mailbox. It is usually located inside the mailbox.
While nothing is fool proof, by taking some of these steps, you can ensure your packages are more secure and increase the likelihood that you “get what you paid for.”
Sources
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