In order to ensure that you do not lose the perfect gift that you have spent so much time and money finding, you do not want it to be stolen off your front porch before you can even open it. When you have something delivered to your house during the holiday season, porch pirates make their presence felt more when online shopping ramps up around the holiday season.
A recent survey conducted by the online home security resource, The Home Security Resource, found that over three in five American adults have encountered package theft at least once in their lifetime. A significant contributor to the problem is COVID-19, which exacerbates it by making it less likely that shoppers will go shopping for a weekend. There has been a recent survey that reveals that more than half of American consumers are planning to shop more online this year than they did in 2021, which could indicate an increase in the number of online thefts.
You may be interested to know that there are steps that can be taken in order to prevent fraud and theft from happening on your front porch. You would like to take precautions during the Holiday season to ensure that your packages do not get stolen by porch pirates.
Opt for Signature Required
Deliveries are usually dropped off near the front door by most drivers when it comes to package delivery. It is usually possible to request a signature upon delivery of your package if you are worried that it will remain unattended while it is being delivered. The package will not be delivered to you unless you are present when it is delivered to you. However, if you're frequently away from home and you receive a lot of packages, you may find this option to be less convenient since you might end up missing a lot of packages if you're often far from home. This may, however, be a smart move in the event that you are expecting a valuable item, as it will ensure its safe arrival as soon as possible.
Deliveries should be locked in a box
It is highly recommended that you invest in a package storage box if you wish to prevent your packages from being left out in the open when they arrive. Using these lockable, lidded containers, you can pack several parcels safely and securely, and they are protected from both thieves and the weather. The delivery driver should be able to lock the one next to your front door with a padlock once your items have been delivered inside, so place one next to the door for them to lock once your items are inside. When entering shipping information for your purchase, make sure to fill out the "delivery instructions" section to ensure that the delivery driver knows where to find the box as well as how to use it when it arrives.
Cameras should be installed
An outdoor security camera can be installed near your entryway or linked directly to your doorbell to detect package thieves and prevent theft from taking place. Moreover, they can be programmed to alert you when deliveries are due, as well as catch porch pirates in the act in case they do. Depending on the system, you might even have 2-way audio capabilities and motion sensors that will alert you if someone is going to your door. It may be helpful if you instruct the delivery person where to place your package in order to alert a potential thief to the fact that they are being watched. The recording that you will have on hand will enable you to report a theft right away to the police as you will have a record of what was happening when a package was stolen.
Keep track of your deliveries
There is an easy way to prevent package theft from occurring if you locate your package as soon as it has been delivered after it has been delivered. In order to keep up with the progress of your package until it reaches your doorstep, delivery services usually offer tracking information so that you can track your package's progress until it reaches you. In fact, some companies will send you an alert when the vehicle delivering your package is within a few stops of your house, which may be a handy feature for you. There is a way you can limit the duration of time that your package is left outside when it is scheduled for delivery if you are at home when the delivery is scheduled. It may be necessary for a neighbor to ensure the package is picked up at your doorstep if you are not at home during the time of delivery in order to ensure you receive the package in person.
Get your neighbors involved
In terms of defending your porch against porch pirates, it is one of the best things you can buy when it comes to such things. Keeping an eye out for strangers in the neighborhood is an important part of keeping track of deliveries at each other's homes. Many social media groups can help you do this as well as apps that can be downloaded for community use. The delivery of your package to your neighbor can be an option if you'll not be at home to receive it, or if there is no one at home to receive it, you can have the package delivered to a neighbor if there will be no one at home to receive it.
Set up a security camera
It is possible to prevent package theft by installing an outdoor security camera near your entranceway or integrating it into your doorbell, so you will be able to view the camera. By using them, you will be able to catch the porch pirate along with a notification that a delivery is on its way. Motion sensors and notification systems are available for a variety of systems and will alert you if anyone is at your front door or if you need to answer it. Sometimes, you may even be able to converse with the person through a two-way audio communication system. If you give instructions on where to place the package, the potential thief might be aware that the package is being filmed. Police may be able to record the incident on tape if they catch a package being stolen from you while you are away.
Conclusion
It is true that many of us use online shopping as a way to save time and as a means of reducing contact with others since we are limiting the amount of time we spend with them. It is important to keep in mind that there is a danger of package theft when you purchase things online. When we are at work or on vacation, packages often sit on the front porch for several days, giving thieves plenty of time to steal them. Further, if someone steals your package, you usually do not have much recourse whatsoever if your package is stolen. As a result, neither the retailer nor the company providing the delivery service is not responsible after the package has been delivered. They can and may or may not offer to replace the product after it has been delivered. When items are stolen, it is advisable to report that theft to the police. However, it is not always the case that the items you lose will be returned to you.
There are some cases when you can order a replacement package after a package has been stolen, but most of the time, this is all you can do. Consequently, you may have to spend a lot of time communicating with customer service, and wait a long time for your delivery, and your wallet might take a hit because of it. The next time you receive a package, you should not even consider the fact that it might be stolen.
