Avoid porch pirates: How to prevent stolen packages from Amazon, UPS and more

Avoid porch pirates: How to forestall stolen packages from Amazon, UPS and more

Close-up of Amazon Prime package outdoors in an office park

(Paradigm credit: Smith Drove/Gado/Getty Images)

The holiday season is here, which means an inevitable surge of deliveries to our doorsteps. It's besides tiptop fourth dimension for "porch pirates," or thieves ready to strike, and find the adjacent opportunity to swipe our packages. As our festive, online purchases begin to go far, you might be wondering how to prevent stolen packages from Amazon, UPS and other major deliverers.

Don't fall victim to the packet theft epidemic. In any example, these are measures yous can have now to relieve the headache of filing lost vacation parcel claims, and ruining your Christmas.

Avoid stolen packages from Amazon with Amazon Central

At that place are a couple of methods to keep your Amazon packages safe. If you lot're an Amazon Prime member, chances are yous have packages delivered regularly. In which case y'all might consider investing in Amazon Central.

Amazon Key is a decent solution for having Amazon Prime shipments dropped right inside your front door, garage or machine body. The system consists of a smart lock and the Amazon Deject Cam security camera, which ends up costing about $300.

When the Amazon driver approaches your firm with the bundle, the Amazon Key app unlocks your door or torso while a camera begins recording the drop off. The app then requires the commuter to confirm that the entrance has been relocked before deviation.

Avert stolen packages from Amazon with Amazon Solar day and Amazon Hub Locker

If you lot'd rather not purchase boosted tech to protect your packages, you tin can use an Amazon delivery feature chosen Amazon Day. Every bit long as you're a Prime Member, you can use Amazon Day to select a specific day you lot desire your parcel delivered. That way you lot can program to be dwelling to choice up your bundle in person.

Amazon Hub Locker is also a secure, cocky-service kiosk that lets you lot pick upwards your package at a place and time that's convenient for you lot. Bachelor in over 900 cities, Amazon Hub Locker can be accessed in diverse grocery stores, malls and even in apartments.

In addition, Amazon Wholefoods offers convenient delivery and pickup of Whole Foods Marketplace items for Prime number members. You would need to pay a service fee, only information technology gives you the piece of mind of non having stolen packages.

Utilize a video doorbell to terminate porch pirates

Ring video doorbell Pro — (Image credit: Ring)

Among the best video doorbells, a few models can actually detect when packages are on your doorstep, so y'all know to pick them up. Among Ring video doorbells, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 ($99) and the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 ($249) can detect packages. The former tin can exist wired or run off battery power, while the latter is battery-powered only. Even so, there are boosted differences between the two; check out our Band Video Doorbell vs. Ring Pro for greater detail.

The Google Nest Howdy can not but tell you when a package has arrived, merely will also tell you lot when a parcel has been removed, too. Alternatively, if yous prefer a battery-operated doorbell, the Google Nest Doorbell (battery) is highly rated, but its bombardment is not removable.

We also similar the Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell for its parcel detection, great video quality and clear audio.

While a porch pirate might still nab your delivery, you lot can utilise the footage captured from the doorbell to identify the bad histrion. In order to become the most out of your video doorbells, some require a monthly cloud subscription, so yous have access to advanced features and footage. While others but store your footage on a local difficult drive, without a subscription.

Boosted ways to prevent stolen packages

There are too Smart Commitment Boxes that will automatically lock and secure your packages. Once the delivery man opens it to eolith a package, the box will automatically lock once closed, until you arrive dwelling house. Then you would demand to unlock with a companion app or keypad. While these can exist quite costly, they will ensure nothing gets swiped off your porch, saving yous money in the long-run.

Of course, there are sometime fashioned means to prevent your packages from being stolen. Consider having your goods delivered to your piece of work office, or to a trustworthy person you know volition be home. Y'all can as well request in your order notes that your parcel exist signed for upon delivery. That way the courier volition have to ring your doorbell and meet your, rather than dump the package at your door and dip.

Additionally, you can request that the deliveryman leave your package out of plain sight. If you have a fake plant or hidden nook nearly your door, get out an order note with clear directions for drop off.

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Cynthia Lawrence specialises in Homes ecommerce, covering all things homes and garden-related. She has a wealth of editorial feel testing the latest, 'must-have' domicile appliances, writing buying guides and the handy 'how to' features.

Her piece of work has been published in various titles including, T3, Top Ten Reviews, Ideal Abode, Real Homes, Livingetc. and House Beautiful, among many.

With a rather unhealthy obsession for all things homes and interiors, she also has an interior pattern weblog for mode inspiration and savvy storage solutions (get rid of that clutter!). When she'due south not testing absurd products, she'll exist searching online for more decor ideas to spruce up her family abode or looking for a bang-up bargain!