With supply chain issues and USPS warning of longer delivery times, now is an excellent time to start ordering your holiday gifts online early. One in five consumers started shopping in September to budget better. Online shopping also helps avoid crowds, which may be preferable during the time of COVID-19. 

But the last thing you need is for your presents to get stolen off your porch upon delivery. 

Porch pirates, or thieves who mainly focus on stealing packages, are rampant during the holiday season. Some even follow delivery trucks and grab the boxes shortly after delivery. They often resell the items they steal, including electronics. To enable identity theft, they even steal new credit cards.

Shockingly, 33 percent of consumers have taken no action to prevent or reduce the chance of their packages being stolen despite an increase in theft during the pandemic.

We are here to break down how you can protect yourself and your holiday deliveries. 

Opt for ship-to-store to avoid package theft

Ship-to-store can give you peace of mind as you can pick up your packages on your own time. You’re able to order an item online, ship it to the store, then safely pick it up curbside to avoid holiday crowds inside the store. 

Stores like Target, Old Navy, Walmart, Best Buy, and others offer ship-to-store options. You can also ship your Amazon purchases to a self-service locker near you. 

Keep track as it makes its way to you

Once you receive your tracking number, keep a close eye on it to make sure you’re home when scheduled to arrive. If you aren’t home, alert another member of your household that a package is coming that day. 

Neighbors have even banded together to hold packages for each other as a way to thwart porch thieves.

Included in UPS and FedEx online services is the ability to schedule your delivery when it’s convenient for you. You can also reroute the package to the nearest UPS or FedEx shipping center or alternate location for pickup.

If you’re out of town, hold your packages

While it’s hard to keep track of several incoming online orders, start slowing down your ordering a week or two before an upcoming trip. This way, you don’t have to keep track of arriving packages, which tempts porch pirates and signals to other criminals that you’re out of town. 

Delays happen, of course. Ask USPS to hold your mail while you’re gone and let your neighbors know that you’ll be out of town.

Add a package lockbox with an anti-theft slot

Delivery drivers may sometimes toss a package on your porch in plain view. To avoid tempting porch pirates, order a parcel lockbox that can be bolted to the ground and has a wide slot for packages to go in. You can access the contents with a key upon your return home. Just keep in mind that these lockboxes can only hold a finite number of packages. 

Another unexpected benefit? Lockboxes are weather-resistant, so your packages will remain dry while you’re out. 

Install a video doorbell to capture evidence of porch pirates

While a video doorbell won’t entirely deter porch pirates, it will catch them in action. That video can help solve package theft cases and increase neighborhood security. Police recommend having one as it captures the thieves as they approach the porch to grab the packages.

Install Flock Safety License Plate Reading (LPR) cameras to improve your neighborhood security

Flock Safety helps neighborhoods and law enforcement successfully work together to solve property crimes like package theft. 

The key lies in the system’s unique Vehicle Fingerprint™ technology that gathers and categorizes physical descriptions about each vehicle that passes the camera. When a crime occurs, assigned users — such as a designated HOA board member or local police — can filter their search within the timeframe when the package was stolen and return vehicle details and a license plate number.

Unlike traditional LPRs or home security cameras, Flock Safety cameras are aesthetically pleasing and affordable for neighborhoods seeking a turnkey solution to package theft.

What to do if you’re a victim of porch pirates

First, check with the delivery company to make sure your package was delivered. It’s good to check with your neighbors as well, as the package may have been misdelivered. If your package is really missing, submit a claim with both the business and the shipping company. You may be able to receive a refund for lost goods. 

If you caught the porch pirate on your doorbell camera or with Flock Safety’s LPR cameras, submit the information to your local police precinct as soon as you can. 

Want to see if Flock can help keep your community safe? Contact us at 866-901-1781, or book a demo below.