How To Protect Yourself From Becoming a Porch-Pirate Victim
Whether you’re back-to-school shopping or buying presents for the holidays, you may be receiving many packages at your doorstep. Despite the convenience of buying school supplies and holiday gifts from the comfort of your home, online shopping comes with a major concern: porch pirates.
As the name suggests, porch pirates steal packages and deliveries from doorsteps. Almost 1 in 7 Americans had been a victim of porch pirates during the year, according to a 2022 report by C+R Research.
We consulted experts about why porch piracy has become such a huge problem and how shoppers can effectively protect their homes and packages.
Porch Pirates by the Numbers
As e-commerce booms, so does package theft. C+R Research found in its October 2022 report that more than one-third of Americans know someone who had a package stolen last year. The average value of stolen packages is $112.30.
These thieves have ample opportunity: The research firm reported that 90% of survey respondents receive a package delivery at least once a month, with more than half getting deliveries weekly.
“There are many, many packages delivered to homes and businesses every day,” says Joe Kuhns, a criminology professor at the University of Charlotte. “The offender does not have to actually enter the house or business in order to secure a potential valuable, and escape is much easier too.”
Not all theft is porch piracy: Between 2018 and 2023, postal inspectors arrested nearly 9,000 suspects for mail package theft, according to the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Your location may also affect how susceptible you are to package and mail theft. C+R Research found that shoppers who live in cities are more likely to be victims of package theft than those who live in the suburbs.
9 Tips To Protect Yourself From Porch Pirates
While the statistics around porch piracy may feel daunting, you can take action to protect yourself from thieves. Here are nine steps to guard against becoming a porch pirate’s next victim.
Track Your Packages
Knowing exactly where your packages are by tracking them in real-time helps you grab your delivery before a thief can. Many online retailers provide tracking codes that allow you to monitor the status of your packages and receive a notification when the package arrives.
Michigan’s Department of the Attorney General also warns against letting mail sit in your mailbox for an extended period of time. You can sign up for Informed Delivery to get previews of incoming mail and packages that were sent via the United States Postal Service.
Require a Signature
Using secure delivery options, such as requiring a signature upon delivery, can significantly reduce the risk of theft. Asking for a signature upon delivery ensures that you or someone you live with will be able to bring a package inside immediately. Another option is to have the delivery sent to a secure locker service, such as an Amazon Locker or FedEx office, so it isn’t out in the open while you’re not home.
Schedule Deliveries for When You’ll Be Home
On that note, you can also schedule deliveries to arrive on days when you know you’ll be at home—a perk that most retail companies now offer. This way, you’ll be able to move your package indoors the moment it arrives, or you can coordinate with a neighbor to take your package inside for you.
Use a Surveillance Camera
If you’re not at home, there’s still a way to see when your package arrives and have evidence if a porch pirate does snag it: doorbell cameras. Most of these devices allow you to access the camera’s live feed or recorded footage via your smartphone no matter where you are. The recordings may also assist law enforcement in catching a thief.
Criminals look for easy access, entrance, and escape, such as homes without visible alarms or cameras, according to Kuhns. In other words, a security camera won’t just help you see who stole your package—it can also deter some porch pirates.
Employ Other Security Systems
Smart doorbell systems also enable you to chat with delivery personnel even when you’re not home, meaning you can ask them to leave your package in a secure place, such as a discrete bench. Like cameras, security systems—such as those from ADT Home Security, SimpliSafe, and Vivent—can help you deter porch pirates, and they can assist law enforcement in identifying thieves.
Download Neighborhood Apps
Neighborhood apps allow you to communicate with your local community about sporting events and garage sales—but they can also be used to alert neighbors of any suspicious activities. Not only can this help you build trust with your neighbors, but it will keep you up to date on any theft issues in your neighborhood. Nextdoor and Neighbors by Ring are popular neighborhood apps.
Buy a Porch Lockbox
Setting up a secure lockbox means you don’t have to choose between rearranging your schedule or wondering whether your packages are safe. These boxes lock once a package is placed inside. All you have to do is provide instructions to delivery drivers letting them know to use the lockbox, and your package will be securely waiting for you to return home.
Leave a Note for Delivery
An additional way to avoid porch pirates is to be specific in your delivery instructions. For example, you could request that the package be placed behind a plant, under a doormat, or near the back porch. Make sure your instructions are clear and feasible for the delivery driver.
Change Your Address Promptly
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service says that filing a change of address when you move is one way to prevent package theft. Doing so immediately when you leave your old home ensures your packages won’t sit outside a house you’re not returning to. You can change your address via the U.S. Postal Service’s website or by visiting your local post office.
What To Do if You Are a Package Theft Victim
If you find yourself a victim of porch piracy, you’ll want to respond calmly and effectively. Here are five steps to take.
Assess the Situation
First, make sure your package has indeed been stolen. The delivery carrier may have placed your package outside a neighbor’s house, or the package may be arriving later than expected.
Check Surveillance Cameras
If you have a surveillance camera installed, you can easily check to see whether there is any suspicious activity recorded. If you live in a gated community, there may be entrance cameras installed that your property manager has access to.
Once you have the footage and see suspicious activity, capture screenshots or video clips that can be shared with law enforcement.
File a Police Report
Next, notify your local police department of the crime. Provide them with all the information you have, including any video footage or images of the suspect. Reports are essential for documentation and could help in the investigation.
Contact the Retailer
You should also let the retailer or online marketplace from which you made the purchase know about the theft. Explain the situation and provide them with your order number and any relevant details.
Many retailers have policies in place to assist customers who have fallen victim to porch piracy. Depending on its policies, the company might offer to replace the stolen item or refund your purchase.
Let Your Neighbors Know
Just as you may be using neighborhood apps to make sure you’re aware of suspicious activity in your community, many of your neighbors are likely doing the same. Let your neighbors know about the theft and share any helpful details about the porch pirate.
Your neighbors may have also noticed something suspicious and be able to provide additional information for you to pass on to law enforcement.
Our Conclusion
Whether you’re hunting for back-to-school notebooks, a dress for a friend’s wedding, or the latest iPhone, you can buy almost anything online. But nothing ends the excitement of a package arriving like having it stolen before you get home.
You can set up package tracking and install security equipment, such as a lockbox and security camera, to help keep porch piracy from ruining your day.
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