Preventing Porch Pirates as an Online Shopper
Porch pirates are a growing nuisance for online shoppers. These thieves steal delivered packages from unsuspecting customers’ doorsteps before they can retrieve them. Nearly 49 million Americans have experienced package theft in the past year alone. Hundreds of arrests are being made, but as an online consumer, it can feel like your deliveries are at risk of being swiped.
If as a sender, you are worried about porch pirates, know that there is shipping insurance that covers that.
As a consumer, there are steps you can take to outsmart porch pirates and protect your orders. Here are some tips to stop package theft as an online shopper:
Pick up your package as soon as it arrives
It may be tough to pick up your package right away, especially while you are at work, but you can reduce the amount of time your package sits exposed by setting up delivery notifications and alerts to your mobile phone and email. USPS, UPS, and FedEx all have this option. You can usually sign up for alerts after entering your tracking number one one of their sites.
You can also look into tracking apps for your desktop or phone. Parcel and Deliveries both got “Editor Choice” awards on the App Store. Very helpful especially if you have a lot of orders to deal with.
Ring and others sell a mailbox sensor. It is a motion sensor you attach it to the door of your mailbox and whenever it is open, it will send an alert to your phone or Alexa device. This can help you know when your mail is delivered so you can pick it up quickly.
Choose Signature Required Delivery
Opt for signature required delivery whenever possible. This means the courier service, like UPS or FedEx, will not leave your package unless someone is home to sign for it. While it can be inconvenient to wait at home for the delivery, it’s one of your best lines of defense against package theft. Be sure to check the retailer’s shipping options during checkout to see if signature service is available.
Provide Delivery Instructions
Many retailers allow you to provide special instructions for your order delivery. Take advantage of this to specify exactly where you want your packages left, such as around the back, with a neighbor, or hidden behind a planter. Make sure your instructions are easy to understand and execute for the driver. Providing clear directions minimizes the need to leave packages unattended.
Ship to Your Workplace
Have orders delivered to your workplace rather than home if that’s an option. Packages left with a receptionist, mailroom, or secured office mailboxes have less risk of being stolen versus sitting on your porch all day. Just be sure your workplace is equipped to handle personal deliveries and won’t refuse packages.
Ship to a CVS for UPS or a Walgreens for FedEx
If you have a CVS or Walgreens near you, you may be able to direct your packages there for pickup. They will hold your items for 7 days. You can also have your packages redirected to a FedEx location or UPS Store.
You’ll need to sign up for their respective accounts:
With UPS, you set up your My Choice account and set a location as your default delivery address. This could be a CVS location or one of their UPS Access points, which could be another retailer near you.
With FedEx you redirect your package to be held at one of their locations. You can also do this from their tracking number page.
Use Amazon Lockers
For Amazon orders, select an Amazon Locker pickup location rather than home delivery. These are secure self-service kiosks located in places like convenience stores where packages can be picked up using a scannable barcode. Although it adds an extra pickup errand, it keeps deliveries out of the hands of thieves.
Pick Up at Local Shops
Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy are increasingly offering local in-store pickup for online orders. Curbside pickup keeps packages secure indoors until you can arrive to retrieve your items. For pricier or time-sensitive orders, in-store pickup prevents tempting targets from being left on your porch.
Install a Smart Video Doorbell
Video doorbells like Ring or Nest act as a deterrent to would-be thieves while providing video evidence if a package does get stolen. Footage from your camera can be provided to police and retailers when filing theft reports. Camera doorbells also allow you to confirm legitimate delivery attempts and speak remotely with couriers.
Leave Delivery Notes for Drivers
Leave visible notes for delivery drivers with special instructions on where to leave packages to keep them concealed and secure. For example, ask them to place packages behind planters or under doormats. Provide a persuasive reason, such as high risk of theft in the area, to encourage cooperation. Just be reasonable with locations that don’t make a driver’s job more difficult, which is why porch lock boxes can be more annoying than effective. If you do go with a lock box, choose one that doesn’t require your delivery person to enter a code or do anything that will slow them down. They’ve got to accomplish a lot of deliveries before they can go home. Find something with a slot or trap door where they can just drop the package into.
Go Paperless with Delivery Notifications
Opt for paperless delivery notifications by text or email whenever possible. Don’t leave physical “missed delivery” notices on your door that advertise you have a package awaiting pickup. Digital notifications keep potential thieves in the dark while allowing you to track packages.
Request Discreet Packaging
Some retailers allow customers to request discreet, unmarked packaging without logos or identifying labels. While not guaranteed, discreet boxes draw less attention from would-be thieves. For high value items, unmarked packaging prevents advertising the contents.
Adjust the Delivery Date
Reschedule deliveries for dates you know you’ll be home or can coordinate to have someone receive it. While not always an option, adjusting the anticipated delivery date provides more control to have someone present. Just be aware this often comes with a fee if rescheduling exceeds the carrier’s delivery window.
Use a P.O. Box for Delivery
Routing packages to a post office box rather than your physical address keeps deliveries more secure until you can pick them up. While an added step, having a P.O. Box prevents thieves from ever accessing your packages. Just be aware oversized items may still be delivered to your home unless a post office offers parcel lockers.
File Police Reports for Theft
Always file a police report if a package gets stolen, including providing details like shipment dates, tracking numbers and description of items. Police reports create an official record of theft incidents in your neighborhood which could lead to directed patrols to catch thieves in the act.
Check with your local police department’s website to see how they prefer you report the theft. Generally, if you see a crime in-progress, you can call 9-1-1. If you see suspicious activity, they strongly encourage you to immediately call our non-emergency. If you think someone is trying to steal mail, do not attempt to stop them yourself. To report a theft where unfortunately there is no suspect information or evidence, please utilize your police department’s on-line reporting system. You can also report mail theft to the United States Postal Inspection Service.
While completely eliminating package theft is difficult, taking the right precautions can dramatically reduce your risk. Being proactive with delivery instructions, choosing secure locations, requiring signatures, and using video doorbells demonstrates you take theft seriously. With vigilance and common sense, you can take the target off your porch and discourage local thieves from striking again. Taking action provides peace of mind that your online orders will safely end up in your hands.