The Holidays Are Coming: Prepare for Package Thieves Now
The end of the year is upon us. This means the days will be getting shorter, the temperatures will be getting lower, and the holidays will soon be here. This is a cause for many to celebrate, including porch pirates.
Porch pirates are criminals that steal deliveries from doorsteps before the proper owners are able to retrieve them. And it’s such a big problem in the Nashville area that the city proposed a new law to make the punishment for repeat offenders up to 12 years in jail.
The best way to deal with this situation, however, is to avoid it altogether. There are a few preparations that can be done to lessen the likelihood that you are the victim of a porch pirate.
Here are six things you can do now to lessen your chance of becoming a victim of a porch pirate:
Install a Security Camera
Find Local Lockers
Speak With Your Neighbors
Plan Out Delivery Windows
See if You Can Have Them Delivered to Your Work
Require a Signature
Install a Security Camera
Security cameras are perhaps the best deterrent for porch pirates. The crisp and clear images of new technology provides almost irrefutable evidence when the perpetrator gets caught.
These cameras can be installed to be aimed directly at the area of your porch where your deliveries will sit. These high definition cameras also possess the ability to provide clear images in the dark, so night time deliveries won’t be a problem once daylight saving ends in November.
Many criminals will stop in their tracks and turn around as soon as they notice a camera staring directly at them.
Find Local Lockers
Another option is to avoid bringing your packages to your porch in the first place. Many delivery services — including Amazon and UPS — are now offering secure lockers where you can go to pick up your delivery.
You will receive an email once your package arrives with a passcode. Use this code to open the locker when you arrive and remove your package.
Simply search for a locker location near your home. This will help you put together a realistic game plan for what you can get delivered to these locations, when you would like to pick them up, and how often you use it.
These lockers provide a guaranteed secure environment where your package won’t be accessible by anybody but yourself.
Visit NCA today to learn more about home security options in and around Nashville, TN today!
Speak With Your Neighbors
A unified effort to make sure everyone gets the items they order this holiday season will greatly help your chances of avoiding the disappointment of a stolen package.
Coordinate with your neighbors to keep an eye on each other’s property. Let them know when you’re expecting a package. They can then call the police or check with you if there seems to be a suspicious individual looking at your package.
Or even better, you can have a neighbor grab your package for you until you get home. This eliminates the possibility of someone else grabbing it once it’s safe with your neighbor.
Plan Out Delivery Windows
Many delivery companies provide detailed tracking information. This includes updates as to where they are on the route as well as estimated times of arrival. When possible, plan your day to match these projected delivery times as much as possible.
The safest way to ensure your package isn’t stolen is to be home when it arrives.
But if you can’t be home, this just goes to reinforce the importance of coordinating with your neighbors. You’ll have the ability to simply ask your neighbor if they’ll be home during the delivery window and tell them to look out for your package.
See if You Can Have Them Delivered to Your Work
It’s early enough in the year to check with your place of employment for the possibility of having your packages delivered there. This is a great option for people that often work during the day, when many packages are delivered.
Having a package delivered to your work ensures it will be received by a person, even if you aren’t there. Simply let people know that you are expecting a package and have them set it aside for you to pick up the next time you are there.
Require a Signature
The last option is to require a signature for all of your deliveries. This will keep your packages off of your porch altogether, which eliminates any possibilities that someone else could get to it before you do. This requires a higher level of planning but can be done with enough attention and effort.
Residential security systems including home security cameras are a great way to both deter potential criminals and provide useful evidence should they decide to strike anyway. NCA helps outfit both residential and commercial buildings with security systems.