With online shopping at an all-time high, precautions are necessary to prevent porch thefts

It’s an ongoing problem in many communities, and it leaves many residents puzzled as how to combat it. As more and more people use online shopping as a tool to prepare for the holiday season, the warning of porch pirates is already being spread loud and clear.

In Pennsylvania alone, over two million people have been a victim of stolen packages, with the average price of loss being around $43 each. As of Dec. 14, 2023, over 3,000 packages were reported stolen in Philadelphia alone, which was a rise of about 10%, according to Gambone Law.

Sadly, it is the thieves that have become more crafty with their art, even utilizing disguises, masquerading as deliverymen and -women, like this 2022 case in Ambler Borough.

According to police reports from the case in Ambler, a man “had a FedEx shirt in his possession and would pose as an employee when he stole the packages off the porch.”

Thankfully, defensive technologies have also made advancements to combat such crime. Local police often repeat the same warnings to community homeowners aiming to make online purchases: If you are awaiting packages to your home, there are steps you can take to keep your deliveries safe.

“At a minimum, I would recommend people install security cameras in their homes,” said Hatboro Police Chief Mark Ruegg. “There are many low-cost options, such as Blink and Wyze, for example, that provide good quality video.”

Ruegg added that informing potential thieves of the cameras also goes a long way at deterring such action.

“It can help to post signage, as well, in an easily seen area, that security cameras are in use,” he said. “If it is clear to a thief that cameras are in use, they may choose a different property to target.”

Abington Township Police Detective Sergeant Troy Hummel said that highly visible cameras on a porch are a great start, and there are other ways to deter porch pirates, too.

“Some of the other things we would recommend is possibly a lockbox that you can secure to your porch,” said Hummel in a recent interview. “They often serve as a deterrent, as well.”

Ruegg also said drop boxes are useful.

“Although they can be expensive, there are drop boxes readily available on the internet to secure packages,” said the Hatboro chief. “

Another alternative provided by some retailers are pick-up locations. Instead of having a package sent to an unattended home, you can select a store or lockbox location near you. For example, Amazon offers various spots for pickup. By entering a zip code, you can locate one nearest to you.

Ruegg said that there is also nothing quite like the human experience that can help keep neighborhoods safe from any crime.

“I would remind people if they see something or someone acting suspiciously, contact 911 immediately so police can respond and investigate,” he said. “Porch thefts take very little time to complete. The quicker the police are notified of a potential problem, the greater the likelihood the offender will be caught.”