Valuable Tips to Deter Porch Pirates

Valuable Tips to Deter Porch Pirates

The surge in online shopping that accompanied the pandemic helped cement the term “porch pirates” in the popular lexicon. With so many retailers closed and so many Americans working from home, thieves had a field day swooping down on unsuspecting homes and making off with all manner of recently purchased goods.

Three years later, the pandemic has passed but online shopping and porch piracy remain as prevalent as ever. Indeed, data reveals that Americans continue to lose tens of millions of dollars annually to such thievery. The good news is there are proven strategies you can employ to help safeguard your purchases.

Right on Time: The most obvious tactic you can employ is to try and be home when packages are delivered. Tracking numbers enable you to follow the purchase’s progress from the distribution center to your door, making it far easier to estimate the day and time of the actual delivery. If possible, arrange your schedule to be at home when the shipment arrives.

Friends, Family and Neighbors: If you’re sure you can’t be home when packages arrive, look into the possibility of having them shipped to a nearby relative who will more likely be in at that time. If you have no family in the area, consider adopting the same strategy with the help of a friend or even a neighbor. Either way, be sure to thank those assisting you for their time and effort on your behalf.

Alternate Methods: Two other ways to thwart thieves is to have packages delivered to your work address, if possible, or by simply spring for a post office box. The latter are particularly valuable if you receive packages throughout the year. Also be aware that UPS rents boxes with a street address for those online retailers who will not deliver to a regular P.O. box.

Ring My Bell: Safety concerns in recent years have led more Americans to swap their old doorbells for a new ones complete with a camera. While not a foolproof porch-pirate remedy, these devices are proven deterrents. A photo from your doorbell camera confirms the package was delivered and that someone other than you took it; companies generally will send a replacement if you have such proof of theft. The images also can help police find the perpetrator.

Other Strategies: Here are a handful of other strategies with the potential to deter porch pirates. The first is to adopt the old school approach of requesting a signature upon delivery. This might not be the most convenient approach but you needing to sign for packages makes it far less likely they will sit at your front door for hours at a time. You also should consider the “delivery pick up” or “ship to store” options so you can retrieve your package yourself. If shopping on Amazon, consider having the package delivered to one of its many locker facilities, which are springing up at supermarkets and other retailers across the country. And once you receive your packages, do not place clearly marked boxes out in front of your home – you do not want to advertise your recent purchases. Be sure to break boxes down and place them in the trash.
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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.