Stop Package Theft From Your Doorstep! - Don’t be a Victim of the Porch Pirate Grinch

Don't Let the Porch Pirate Grinch Ruin Your Christmas

If you buy gifts online and have them shipped to you, you run the risk of having those gifts stolen right off of your front porch by criminals known as porch pirates.

Estimates are 23 million people have been victims. I want to ensure you are not one of the many people who will have packages stolen this holiday season.

Here are 6 ways to protect against this common crime.

First, the new Amazon Key service. This is a recently announced delivery option by Amazon. Amazon customers buy a lock and video camera system at a cost starting about $250.
Once installed and activated, Amazon delivery representatives can unlock your door and leave packages inside your home. The door re-locks after the delivery rep leaves.

There is one small problem: this brand new system was hacked several days after it was launched. Amazon sent a patch, but according to reports not all home systems were properly updated.

My advice: run away from this service and run very, very fast and far. Due to the multiple risks inherent is this type of system, I cannot recommend the Amazon Key service.

Option 2, Amazon’s Locker Service. One Amazon service I whole heartedly recommend is their Locker Service. Amazon has installed secured lockers in more than 2,000 locations such as 7-11’s, Whole Foods, Safeways, and other retailers.

When you make a purchase from Amazon, you can designate one of the locker locations as your “ship to” address. You’ll receive a notification from Amazon letting you know the package has arrived at the locker.

You simply go to the locker location and enter the access code you’ll be given by Amazon to retrieve your package. You have 3-days to pick up your package. You can also initiate returns at the same location if that turns out to be necessary. You’ll see a photo of the Amazon Locker kiosk at my local Safeway store in the show notes, available at www.SafeLivingToday.com.

A third option is a system called Package Guard. This device is about the size of a Frisbee.

Delivery personnel place packages on the Package Guard and you’re instantly notified that the package is waiting. If anyone takes the package before you disarm the Package Guard, an alarm is activated. The Package Guard costs about $90. You’ll find details at the company’s website located at www.thepackageguard.com.

A fourth option is to have packages delivered to your workplace. Check with your company to ensure they allow personal package deliveries. If they do, this is a great option.

Option five is to require signature verifications for all packages, or for packages that contain expensive items. This can be inconvenient, specially if you’re typically not at home. It does, however, provide an added layer of package protection.

Option six is to rent a P.O. box for a few months at the Post Office, a UPS store, or other mail handling service and have packages shipped to the P.O. Box address. Prices will vary, but typically a 3-month rental at a UPS store will cost about $75.

Renting a P.O. Box from late November through February can provide a secure delivery location for your holiday packages.

Video Cameras:

A word about outside video cameras. You’ve probably seen videos of people walking onto someone’s porch, taking a package, and running to a waiting vehicle. Sometimes the image quality of the porch pirate is excellent, sometimes not.

While I do recommend video camera installations to capture activity in your yard and at your door, cameras won’t stop a determined criminal from stealing your packages.

Video cameras may help identify the criminal, but if a thief’s face is covered the video images could prove useless. The best way to protect your packages is to not have them available on your doorstep.

How to Handle Missing Packages:

What do you do if you are expecting a package, but when checking the normal home delivery location it doesn’t show up?

First, check all doors and the area around your garage to ensure the delivery rep didn’t place the package in an unusual location. UPS and FedEX hire temporary workers during the holiday season and your usual delivery person may not be the one delivering a package.

Check with neighbors to ensure the package wasn’t left at the wrong address.

If after checking around your home and talking with neighbors, it’s obvious the package is missing, notify the company who shipped the package and confirm their records show the package was delivered. Let the seller know the package is missing and report the theft to your local police. If the package was shipped via the United States Postal Service, notify the postal inspector’s office as well.

How about insurance reimbursement for packages stolen from your porch? Depending on your policy, you may be able to file a claim for insurance reimbursement. However, your deductible will probably apply. Check your homeowners policy and call your insurance company if you are thinking of filing an insurance claim for stolen items.

But if you choose to employ one of the six methods to keep your delivered packages safe, you won’t need to worry about a Grinch porch pirate stealing your holiday gifts.

To summarize those six methods, they are:

- Sign up for and use the new Amazon Key Service. I do not recommend this new service, but it is an option.

- Use an Amazon Locker near your home as the “ship to” address. I do strongly recommend this service.

- Purchase and use the Package Guard product. You’ll find details about this product at www.ThePackageGuard.com.

- Have packages delivered to your workplace.

- Require signature verification for all packages or packages containing expensive items.

- Rent a P.O.Box at the Post Office, UPS Store, or other mail handling service and have packages shipped to the P.O Box address.

Choose to employ one of these safe package delivery options, and the Porch Pirate Grinch will not ruin your holidays.

Thank you for joining me for this episode. You can get the show notes for this and all of our episodes at www.SafeLivingToday.com.

You can also subscribe to the show there as well. You’ll find us on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Subscribe on Android, and on most other podcast listening services.

You can reach me with questions or comments at SafeLivingToday@gmail.com.

As I close this episode, I wish you and yours a happy holiday season. And, as always, I ask you to please… Stay Safe, Stay Well, and Stay Blessed.