How To Protect Your Packages From Getting Stolen By Porch Pirates
While you are waiting eagerly for your packages to arrive, so are the porch pirates. Online shopping and package deliveries have increased over the holiday season. This is excellent news for people who are attempting to steal deliveries straight off your doorstep.
Porch pirates are opportunistic burglars preying on mail carriers and unoccupied houses to poach some unclaimed merchandise, while the recipient of the package is none the wiser. Last year, over 260 million deliveries were intercepted by the porch pirates, which is an increase from 2020, when 210 million people had their deliveries stolen.
The rise in theft is widely due to the increase in online shopping since the 2020 pandemic. During the middle of 2020, internet sales increased by 16.4%. Add in the annual holiday spending, and the mail and courier system is busier than ever. This extra pressure on the mailing system makes it an easy target for porch pirates to strike multiple times over a long period. It is estimated that over $19.5 billion in sales are lost to this particular type of burglary.
Law enforcement has stated that they have seen an increase in theft in the last number of weeks, and it has become an enormous problem. Porch pirates need very low skill to complete this type of theft, and for the most part, it is a low-risk operation to walk up to someone’s door and steal a package.
So how do you guard your packages against being such an easy target? Security cameras are a good start but sometimes do not deter thieves from completing their crimes. Where possible, it would be better to sign up to receive confirmation of when the package will be delivered and when the delivery will be completed. This notification system will give you a timeline on when to expect a package. Most of the main delivery services offer this type of notification.
Once the delivery notification is received, collect your package as soon as possible or ask a neighbor to ensure the package is safe. Alternatively, scheduling a delivery when you are confident you will be at home is an excellent way to guarantee your packages do not disappear.
Also, picking up your deliveries from a UPS, FedEx, or Amazon hub ensures your deliveries make it to you and not a porch pirate.
Despite all your efforts, if your package happens to get stolen, you can reach out to the retailer or the delivery company. More often than not, they will replace the items or issue a refund. Sometimes, filing a claim, according to ConsumerReports.org, can result in a refund for your stolen package. Also, there is an option to involve the police, as the stolen goods are occasionally recovered, especially if they are of high value.
Even though you should be diligent when receiving online packages to ensure they are not stolen, it should not deter you from shopping online for gifts for your loved ones this holiday season. Porch pirates may love this time of year, but so does everyone else.
