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March 29, 2024

Al Diaz of Rialto, Calif., watched as a package his father ordered was torn apart minutes after it arrived. This porch pirate geek walks away with over $1,000 worth of gifts in seconds. A set of pajamas he bought for his dog and himself, along with three Movado watches said to be worth a combined $1,000, were stolen from his porch.

Holiday shopping has never been easier thanks to online shopping and delivery services.

Instead of rushing through the hustle and bustle of malls and department stores, people can now do all their holiday shopping with a click of the mouse from the comfort of their own home.

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Unfortunately, gifts don’t always make it to their intended recipients, as packages continue to mysteriously disappear from doorways and patios across the country.

No, it wasn’t the evil Grinch trying to steal Christmas, but what came to be known as the “Porch Pirates.”

Watch out for porch pirates hunting your cargo this holiday season.
(Fox News)

In 2021, nearly 290 million packages were stolen from porch.

According to a recent study by the research firm safelyOver the past 12 months, 260 million packages worth an estimated $19.5 billion have been stolen from porches across the country.

No doubt, this statistic will only grow as the holidays approach.

Texas police urge residents to be wary of ‘porch pirates’ this holiday season

armed and dangerous

things got scarier Antioch, Tennesseewhere three porch pirates were found following a FedEx delivery truck and stealing packages in transit.

What’s more, the men were found carrying loaded firearms.

Thankfully, after the black Dodge Charger they were driving was tipped off, the three perpetrators were caught and arrested and charged.

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The police are watching.

As reports of stolen packages continue to mount, local authorities are doing their best to keep an eye out for porch pirates.

police department Van Alstein, Texas Even figured out a foolproof way to make sure packages get to their intended recipients this holiday season.

By allowing residents to send their packages to the police.

Since the station is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, residents of Van Alstyne can come and pick up their gifts anytime, as long as they show a valid ID.

However, if your local police department doesn’t offer this service, or if you don’t want to make the long trip to the police station to pick up your gift, fear not.

As previously reported on CyberGuy.com, here are 8 easy ways to avoid falling victim to your local porch bootlegger.

Best Ways to Avoid Package Theft with Porch Pirates

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Invest in a video doorbell

Install a video doorbell, such as WyserMight stop porch pirates from dying in their tracks.

Even if it doesn’t stop them from stealing, you’ll still be warned that someone has approached your front porch door, whether they ring the doorbell or not, and grab them on the spot, with their face fully visible.

You can even go a step further and install camera License plates may be clearly photographed in the trees surrounding the driveway. While this won’t guarantee that you’ll get your stolen merchandise back, it will greatly help your local police track down the culprit.

The day after the new sheriff was sworn in, Los Angeles police announced the arrest of 18 gangs involved in an organized mass retail theft

select delivery date

Most online retailers allow you to schedule a delivery date, giving you a day and a rough time when your package will arrive. This allows you to prepare and wait for it to arrive, keeping your gift safely hidden behind a locked door.

Amazon, UPS, and FedEx can also alert you when you receive a package.

The Grinch Might Steal Your Christmas Check

Get to know your delivery driver

Next time you see your mail carrier arrive at your house, introduce yourself and maybe ask him if he can keep your package somewhere less conspicuous than the front porch.

Porch pirates snatch packages almost exclusively off the front porch, making it easy for them to grab them, and even easier to escape. Placing your packages by the back door or some other more secluded location will definitely make them more secure.

In select regions, Amazon even offers a service called Amazon Key to purchase smart garage controllers such as My Qan Amazon delivery driver can leave your package safely in your garage.

Rest assured, drivers will only be able to access your garage for one-off deliveries.

A lock box can help keep your packages safe.

A lock box can help keep your packages safe.
(Building Mailbox)

lock box

Another way to ensure your packages are safe and waiting for you when you get home is to purchase a secure drop box such as Elephant Trunk Parcel Delivery.

The goods are placed on top of the crate and then placed in a locked room that only the owner can enter.

Shock-absorbing pads and a water-resistant coating keep your items safe from thieves and the elements.

Of course, if you don’t want to invest in your own lockbox and don’t mind traveling, you can always send packages to Amazon Locker.

Once your package arrives, you will receive a notification and delivery information.

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Be wary of nearby pirates

By signing up for a Neighborhood Watch app such as Neighbor or next doorwhere you can track any stolen packages in your neighborhood, where users can also post photos of any porch pirates they might have caught with their doorbell cameras.

If you happen to catch porch pirates stealing packages, one thing to keep in mind, try to avoid “being a hero”.

As much as we would love to take action to stop them, people never know how dangerous these porch pirates are, so it’s best to call the police or notify other neighbors before doing it yourself.

Copyright 2022 CyberGuy.com. all rights reserved. CyberGuy.com articles and content may contain affiliate links that earn commissions on purchases made.



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