The Grinch worked additional time last holiday season – study group Safely reports that in 2023, over 120 million packages were stolen in the USA.
According to him, lawmakers are taking steps to reduce crime by stiffening penalties NPR. For example, Florida imposes tougher penalties for package theft, and a bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that might impose the same federal mail theft penalties for stealing packages from Amazon and other private corporations.
As government officials and law enforcement agencies consider how to make package thieves pay for their crimes, here are some suggestions to keep your porch from becoming a goal.
Send incognito
“Brands on the boxes make the targets more enticing because they supply clues as to what is perhaps inside, Ben Stickle, a criminal justice professor at Middle Tennessee State University, told NPR. Amazon offers the option to ship items in a regular box. Always click this if the option is available.
Get moving lights and a camera
A well-lit porch monitored by a security camera is a good deterrent. They’re not foolproof (we have all seen Ring’s on-camera footage of brazen thieves stealing goods), but they do help law enforcement discover and hopefully apprehend criminals.
Give instructions to Amazon
Amazon allows (and encourages) customers to leave instructions for drivers about where to leave their packages, so make the most of this chance and select a location that is not visible from the street. Prime subscribers in some areas can place packages in their garage.
Deliver to an alternative, trusted location
If you are unlikely to be home when packages are delivered, Stickle recommends enlisting the help of a neighbor or member of the family who is often home. Deliver packages to them and pick them up later. You also can order parcels delivered to work or to a parcel locker. Requiring a signature ensures that no shipment is left unprotected.
Report but don’t engage
If you see a pirate swinging your stuff around, it is really helpful that you simply shout at him to scare him away – but don’t open the door or physically engage with him. Call the police immediately, Stickle advises, and write down any details about the person and their vehicle. No package is price the risk of physical harm.