Package Theft: For all the convenience that ordering online gives us, there is an unfortunate downside \u2013 our delivery may be taken by someone else before we\u2019re able to get our hands on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Package theft, especially around the holidays, is a growing inconvenience for many consumers. Approximately 26 million Americans say they\u2019ve experienced package theft, with the number increasing every year as \u201cporch pirates\u201d get bolder and ordering online grows in popularity.1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n No one wants to fall victim to the antics of a porch pirate \u2013 including you. Consider implementing these low-cost solutions so your package makes it off the porch and into your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It may not be a low-cost option, but our list wouldn\u2019t be complete without the recommendation of a home security device. Signs announcing the presence of a home security system can go a long way in your efforts to scare off a thief. In fact, homes without security systems are 300% more likely to be broken into or vandalized.2<\/sup> Bonus: You may be able to receive a discount on your homeowners\u2019 insurance<\/a>. Contact one of our agents<\/a> for details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Strategically-placed security cameras, or devices like video doorbells and lock boxes, can also go a long way in mitigating package theft and have increased in popularity for their ability to catch thieves in the act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as you\u2019re shipping products to your door, there\u2019s a chance your package will be a target. Use these strategies to deter package theft and finally get rid of porch pirates for good.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Not on my porch: How to avoid package theft Package Theft: For all the convenience that ordering online gives us, there is an unfortunate downside \u2013 our delivery may be taken by someone else before we\u2019re able to get our hands on it. Package theft, especially around the holidays, is a growing inconvenience for many consumers. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14824,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,342,1,348,2],"tags":[196,197,4,198,27],"class_list":["post-3678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-blog","category-home-insurance","category-insurance","category-renters-insurance","category-shield-blog","tag-holiday-deliveries","tag-holiday-packages","tag-home-insurance","tag-package-theft","tag-theft"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3678"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3678\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10105,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3678\/revisions\/10105"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Keep your package off the porch in the first place. If your company allows, consider shipping your packages to your workplace instead of your home.<\/li>
Do you have a neighbor or a friend that\u2019s usually home? If so, see if they can wait for your package or keep an eye out for it.<\/li>
Consider requesting a signature for your package to be dropped off. That way, your package won\u2019t be left on your porch exposed to potential thieves.<\/li>
If you\u2019re sending a package, ask the recipient to share information on the safest way for them to receive deliveries.<\/li>
FedEx, the U.S. Postal Service and UPS all have alternative pickup and delivery options available. Visit their websites to explore your options and update your delivery preferences. You can also sign up for delivery alerts to track your package and stay up-to-date on delivery times.<\/li>
Consider investing in low-cost technologies like automatic light timers and motion-censored lights.<\/li>
It may seem counter-intuitive, but if a thief has no place to hide, they\u2019re less likely to take the risk of going up to your porch in the first place.<\/li>
Ordering from a high-end store? Consider marking the \u201cgift\u201d checkbox when you purchase so the package comes in a plain box. You can also request this of friends and family so your box doesn\u2019t grab attention.<\/li>
Neighborhood groups on social media or community apps like Nextdoor can provide your neighborhood a system for reporting suspicious activity to each other.<\/li>