How to Stop Porch Pirates from Stealing Your Packages

Porch pirates are becoming increasingly bold, making package theft a common concern for many homeowners. To combat this issue, there are several actions you can take to prevent stolen packages. By taking these proactive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of porch pirates stealing your packages and ensure your deliveries are safe.

Porch pirates — thieves who snatch packages right off your doorstep — can really mess up your day. First, you deal with the hassle of tracking down a missing package. Then you have to reorder the item. Of course, you can only hope you get your money back from the online retailer, who ends up losing out, too.

Unfortunately, porch piracy is a major issue. In a survey of 1000 renters, package theft was the most common crime reported in their apartments. An estimated 119 million packages were stolen in 2023.

Thankfully, you can put a stop to it. Here’s how.

What is a porch pirate?Title

First, the basics. Porch pirates are those sneaky thieves who grab packages that delivery services leave at people’s front doors. They may operate in broad daylight or under the cover of darkness, sometimes wearing disguises or posing as delivery personnel themselves to avoid suspicion.

These individuals take advantage of the period when a package has been delivered but not yet brought inside by the recipient. This opportunistic crime has surged with the rise of online shopping, as more packages are left unattended on porches and stoops.

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Here are some common tactics porch pirates use to steal packages.

Before you can prevent porch piracy, you need to understand how it usually works. Understanding these strategies is key to reinforcing your home’s defenses and reducing the risk of being targeted for package theft.

These thieves often exploit several loopholes in the delivery process to steal packages. One common method is following delivery trucks to observe where packages are left unattended. They target neighborhoods where homes are set back from the street or obscured by landscaping, making it easy to approach undetected. Additionally, some will simply walk through neighborhoods, looking for parcels visible from the street.

Porch pirates tend to target houses or neighborhoods that have certain vulnerabilities:

• Mail and packages left unattended for long periods
• Lack of visible security cameras
• No neighbors nearby or visible from street
• Homes with routine delivery schedules
• Poor lighting around entryways and porches

Porch pirates tend to act quickly; they often strike shortly after a delivery is made, knowing that most victims are at work or otherwise occupied. In some cases, they may disguise themselves as legitimate delivery personnel, donning uniforms, or carrying clipboards, which makes their presence less suspicious to neighbors or passersby.

7 ways to stop porch pirates

Maybe you don’t want to have personal packages delivered to your workplace or ask your neighbors for help. Here’s what you can do instead.

1. Have packages held at a secure site

Most package delivery services have physical storefronts where you can pick up your package. UPS, FedEx, and of course, the US Postal Service all offer in-person pickup options.

Retailers are also getting in on the action. Amazon, keenly aware of the problem, offers a service called Amazon Locker. With this service, you choose one of their participating locker locations, typically at a gas station or similarly high-traffic store, to send your delivery. Then, you receive a code via email or text that allows you to open a designated locker and grab your items. In addition, many brick-and-mortar retailers like Target now offer in-store or curbside order pickup.

2. Install a security camera

A security camera or doorbell camera can be a great deterrent. It can help to make sure would-be robbers know they’re being watched. A sign by your front door and driveway and stickers on your window help ensure they know. And if they still try to take your package, you’ll have a record of the entire incident (including their appearance).

Better yet, install Deep Sentinel home security cameras and enjoy the extra benefit of live security guard intervention. If someone so much as looks at your pile of packages for too long, a guard jumps in to raise the alert and call the police if needed.

Check out Deep Sentinel in action, stopping a real attempted package theft in their tracks:

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3. Request a signature upon delivery

Requiring a signature before a package can be dropped off can provide both a safety measure and documentation. You can usually request this on the package tracking page. This means the delivery person will ensure the package is properly handed over instead of simply leaving it on the porch. It also provides you with clear proof that the item has arrived at its destination.

4. Specify delivery drop-off instructions

Want that package tucked inside your recycling bin or hidden on the back porch? Some carriers let you tell them where to put the package. UPS, for example, offers an online tool, My Choice. FedEx has a service called Delivery Manager. Amazon Key lets couriers drop off packages inside your home.

5. Use a package locker service

Package locker services provide a secure place to have your packages delivered. Many companies offer this service, allowing your packages to be delivered to a local locker location instead of your home.

Once delivered, you receive a unique code or digital key to access the locker and retrieve your package at your convenience. Amazon offers Amazon Hub Lockers, which are located in various public places like grocery stores or apartment buildings. These lockers not only prevent theft but also add a layer of convenience for those who may not be home during typical delivery times.

RELATED POST: Preventing Multi-Family Package Theft

6. Use a package guard device

Typically placed at your doorstep, a package guard keeps your packages safe until you pick them up. They use weight sensors to detect when a package arrives and can send notifications to your smartphone. Some models even have loud alarms that trigger if someone tries to steal a package, helping to deter potential thieves. Package guards are especially useful for those who receive many deliveries but may not be home to bring them inside right away.

7. Opt for secure delivery locations

Many carriers let you have packages delivered to secure lockers, local post office boxes, or authorized pickup spots like convenience stores. This is super helpful for anyone who can’t be home during regular delivery hours. By sending your package to a secure, monitored location, you avoid the worry of it being left unattended on your doorstep.

Take action to stop porch pirates in their tracks.

Take the extra step to guard against porch thieves. With Deep Sentinel guards watching your property through live video monitoring, porch pirates don’t stand a chance. Give us a call at 833.652.2606 to learn more about our AI-powered security systems.