As the holidays approach,
we'll all be ordering packages and presents
to our door more than usual.
And that's saying a lot
considering we've all been getting deliveries
and online shopping since the pandemic started last year.
But more deliveries on our doorsteps
means more bait for porch pirates.
In this week's Ask Safewise,
we're looking at those grinchy package thieves
who were bold enough to swipe deliveries from our homes.
Who are they, and how can you prevent porch pirates?
Let's dive in.
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From the same place everything comes from these days:
the internet.
The term was originally seen in the early 2010s
floating around Twitter and was eventually added
to Urban Dictionary in 2011.
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It's hard to get an exact number, unfortunately,
but it seems roughly between 30% and 50% of Americans
have had at least one package stolen.
Most data out there comes from surveys.
C&R Research saw a 7% rise in respondents
who had packages stolen from 2019 to 2020.
And of those, two thirds had multiple packages swiped.
Another survey from Insurance Quote
sampled answers from 1000 folks
and found that one in five experienced package theft.
We even asked our own expert, Ben Stickle.
He said that these numbers are consistent with surveys
he's either studied or conducted.
Between about a third and 50% of every study
that I've seen, people have been victims of package theft,
and if you ask them if they know someone
who has, it jumps even higher.
So, the encouraging part of that is even though the surveys
are done at different times in different methods
some with 500, I did one with about 700 respondents.
Others have done them with about 2000;
we're finding that 30% to 50% range.
And most of these reports
which makes me believe that about 30% to 50% of individuals
who receive a package at home
have had their packages stolen at least once.
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Sometimes, but not as much as we'd hope,
it takes the perfect storm to catch
and identify a thief in the act, but it does happen.
Most of the time, people aren't as interested in arrest
but more interested in just getting their stuff back.
We found tons of footage of people
confronting package thieves in the best possible way.
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The best way to catch a porch pirate though
is with the camera that recognizes packages and people.
You can see our favorite doorbell cameras
and outdoor cameras on SafeWise.com.
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Porch piracy is a crime of opportunity.
A thief sees an unguarded, unsupervised package
and goes for it.
So, the best way to stop them
is to take away that opportunity.
You can do this in a few ways.
Have the package delivered somewhere else.
We have a whole video on alternative places
to send your packages.
But long story short,
you can always try spots like your workplace
a friend or family member's house
or even secure Amazon lockers.
Hide the package when it gets to your home.
You can find delivery lockboxes, secure bags,
or you can direct the delivery drivers
to hide your parcels out of view.
Let them know you're watching.
And finally, there are deterrents like cameras
and video doorbells that let you watch over your property
and catch any movement from things like porch pirates.
These can be helpful, but they aren't a guaranteed way
to stop swipers from swiping.
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Protect your packages with Cove.
Cove is committed to keeping package thieves
away from your parcels.
Here are four ways a Cove Security System
helps send forge pirates packing.
One: tell package thieves to buzz off
using the two-way audio and Cove's video doorbell camera.
Two: no one's going to approach your porch
with a motion sensor that alerts you
to sneaky package poachers.
Three: catch porch pirates in the act with alerts
from a Cove outdoor security camera.
And four: make package thieves think twice
when they see your protected by Cove yard sign.
But you don't have to stop at the front door.
Cove has home security solutions that protect everything
from the front door to the back deck.
Find out how easy it is to secure your home with Cove.
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We hope you never have to deal with this,
but as we've already established
it's unfortunately a common problem.
If your package is stolen, start by reporting it.
You can file a police report to your local police department
and they can use your report to collect patterns
in your area.
And if that isn't your jam,
there are neighborhood apps you can use like NextDoor
or Ring's Neighbors app that can tip all folks in your area
and help your community.
Next, contact the sender.
Whether it's Amazon, another online vendor, or an individual
the party who sent your package should know what happened.
In some cases, you can get a refund
and even have another package sent.
After that, contact the delivery service
that brought your package.
This can give you a chance to find a better spot
for future packages and clarify any instructions
to delivery drivers.
And finally, take a few measures to prevent future thefts.
We have a bunch of resources on SafeWise.com
like our lineup of best video doorbells, outdoor cameras,
and more tips on preventing package thefts.
Check the links in the description
to find those articles and more on SafeWise.
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Do you have any more questions about porch pirates?
Let us know in the comments, and tag us with Ask Safewise.
We'll feature your question on a future episode.
Thanks for watching, and stay safe.
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