Unfortunately, your online orders are at risk of theft once they arrive at your door. In fact, 119 million package thefts occurred in the United States last year, according to Capital One Shopping’s Package Theft Statistics report. This means that approximately one in 200 delivered packages is stolen.
If you’re concerned about porch hacking and your overall safety, you’ll want to take a look at our picks for the best home security systems.
Now let’s look at how to stop porch pirates from stealing your packages.
11 ways to prevent package theft
According to a Chamber of Commerce survey, suburban respondents accounted for 43 percent of package theft victims last year, urban respondents accounted for 42 percent, and rural respondents accounted for just 14 percent. However, package theft can happen anywhere, especially if you don’t take proper precautions to prevent it.
“Complacency is a high-risk behavior when it comes to package security. It’s easy for consumers to assume their neighborhood is safe when they haven’t experienced thefts,” says Kathy Sides, co-founder of Loxx Boxx, a smart shipping company.
Here are 11 ways to stop or discourage porch pirates from stealing packages from your porch or door.
1. Track your package and find out when it will arrive
Fortunately, many shipping companies offer real-time tracking and SMS alerts. Take advantage of this service to know the date and time to expect your package. If you know you won’t be home on the day of delivery, you can ask someone nearby, such as a trusted neighbor, to get it for you.
Additionally, you can sign up for USPS Informed Delivery to receive an email each morning with information about mail and packages being delivered to your address.
2. Have your packages delivered to the collection points
Instead of shipping your orders to your home, you can ship them to collection points, where your package will remain securely locked until you can retrieve it. You can ship Amazon orders to an Amazon Locker, a self-service locker at stores like Whole Foods and Staples, gas stations, and more.
FedEx and UPS can also deliver to their stores. For USPS packages, you can set up a post office box (or post office box).
3. Pick up orders in store
Many retailers offer the option to pick up your online order in store. If you have a store nearby, consider this option over shipping to your home to avoid theft.
4. Provide delivery instructions
When you place an order, you may be able to provide instructions to the courier. You can ask him to leave the package out of sight, for example at the back door, behind a planter, in your garden or in any other hidden place. Just make sure your instructions are clear and that your driver has easy access to that spot.
Sides also recommends speaking to the carrier in person. He says: “Showing them where to place their packages at the time of delivery can help alleviate any confusion about future deliveries.”
5. Have your packages delivered to your office
Your employer may allow you to ship packages to your office, which can help you avoid deliveries sitting outside your home while you’re at work and not being able to be brought in. Before you do this, check with your company to make sure this is possible.
6. Require a signature for delivery
You may be able to require a signature for delivery of your shipment. This means that the courier cannot leave the package at your home unless someone is there to accept and sign for it.
However, please note that this may delay delivery until someone gets home. This option may be suitable for someone who is usually at home but wants to make sure they are present when the package arrives to take it home straight away.
7. Get a lockbox for the porch
While delivering packages to a safe location is a great way to prevent theft, it’s not as convenient as delivering items to your home. A porch safe can be a great solution to this.
“Dedicating a secure location with limited access, such as a secure package delivery box, can help ensure convenient protection that preserves safety. These boxes not only help keep packages out of sight of potential thieves, but also protect deliveries from the elements and pests,” says Sides.
8. Get a video doorbell or other camera
While a video doorbell may not prevent a porch pirate, it may deter one. If a potential thief sees that you have a video camera, he might think twice before stealing your package since you would film it.
Video doorbell cameras are also useful for letting you know when a package is delivered. The best video doorbells have package delivery alerts and motion detection, so you can know when someone is at your door.
For complete home security, you can integrate a video doorbell into a home security system with professional monitoring.
9. Get motion sensing lights
Motion detection lights can be another deterrent to package thieves. The lights turn on when they detect movement, which can scare away an unwanted visitor and attract the attention of other people in the house.
10. Use your Amazon key
Amazon Key lets you deliver Amazon packages inside your garage instead of to your front door. Garage Delivery is compatible with select MyQ, Aladdin Connect, and Overhead Door smart garage door openers. When the Amazon delivery driver arrives at your home and scans your package, they receive one-time access to your garage for delivery. I am unable to access it again once the delivery is complete.
If this service is compatible with your workshop, it is a great way to keep packages safe once they are delivered. Amazon says it conducts background checks on all its drivers and instructs them not to come more than five feet into your garage.
11. Get package receiving service
You can pay for a service to receive shipments on your behalf. This can benefit people who are not at home during the day but receive frequent packages. It might also be useful if you’re expecting a delivery while you’re on vacation.
Instead of delivering the package to your home, you can deliver it to the receiving service. The company will securely hold your package until you can collect it.
What to do if someone steals your package
If tracking shows the package has been delivered, but you can’t find it on your property, check with neighbors first to see if they have it. Sometimes packages are delivered to the wrong homes.
If you cannot locate the package and suspect it has been stolen, file a police report so the theft can be recorded. After that, you can look into the following avenues to get a solution:
- File a complaint with the shipping company: The delivery company should be able to provide additional information about the delivery of your package, including confirmation that it has been delivered and is not yet on the delivery truck. Once you file a complaint, the company will investigate the issue. If the package was insured, you may be able to get compensation.
- Contact the seller: An online seller is typically responsible for the package until delivery. However, sellers often have procedures in place to issue refunds or replacements if your package is stolen. Contact the seller to see if there is anything he can do.
While most victims receive a refund for a stolen package, you may not. According to a Chamber of Commerce survey, 25% of respondents who had a package stolen last year never received a refund.
FAQs on How to Stop Porch Pirates
Do porch pirates ever get caught?
Porch pirates are generally difficult to catch, especially if homeowners don’t have security cameras. Even with cameras, many porch pirates dress inconspicuously to hide their identities and avoid suspicion. The best course of action homeowners can take is to secure packages and limit the risk of theft in the first place.
What are porch pirates looking for?
Porch pirates typically look for any exposed packages that they can easily take from the steps or porch without being detected. Many hope to find items inside that they can use or sell to make money.
Summary of How to Stop Porch Pirates
Unfortunately, package theft can affect anyone who gets something delivered to their home, even those in generally safe neighborhoods. To stop or discourage porch pirates from stealing your packages, consider the following things:
- Track your package and find out when it will arrive
- Have your packages delivered to pickup locations (such as Amazon Locker or FedEx and UPS stores)
- Pick up orders in store
- Give delivery instructions
- Receive your packages at your office
- Require a signature for delivery
- Get a lockbox for the porch
- Get a video doorbell or other video camera
- Get motion sensing lights
- Use your Amazon key
- Get a package receiving service