With online holiday shopping getting easier and easier every day, the unfortunate downside is that holiday thievery is also getting much easier.
All it takes is one person and an unwatched driveway and you or your loved ones may be left high and dry come Christmas morning.
Amazon delivers at all hours of the day and with little notice besides an email or text that your package has arrived. Your package may be left out for hours, making it an easy target.
Many people have bought Ring cams for this exact reason, but these devices can be covered, or if a thief is wearing a mask that may be all they need to prevent an accurate description and a return of your package.
According to Security.org, porch pirates were responsible for an estimated $12 billion in lost packages in the U.S. in 2024, with only 11 per cent of those packages being returned.
A reported one in four Canadians who shop online has been a victim of a porch pirate at one point or another.
Most porch pirates are looking to resell small expensive packages like handheld electronics, headphones or other high-value items. The good news is that in most cases if evidence of theft is provided (security video footage, photos, proof of delivery, etc.) Amazon or other delivery companies will refund or even resend your package.
There are even insurance companies that specialize in porch piracy. For example, PorchPals will reimburse you for three stolen packages up to $2,000 for $120 a month.
So how do you prevent your packages from being stolen in the first place? For starters, the easiest and most certain way is to get your packages dropped off at a pickup location. There are currently three UPS pick-up locations in Prince George at 5925 Gauthier Rd., 1027 Eastern St., and 1600 15 Ave. This may be a little inconvenient but it also guarantees that you will receive your package.
Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer for the Prince George RCMP, also has some advice.
“If you find yourself a victim of porch pirate or theft from your doorstep, definitely report it to the shipping company," Cooper said. “Often they'll be able to help you replace your items, but if they can't, or even if they can, make sure you report the theft to your local police so we can track these thefts and know where to deploy our resources the best. Often thieves will work in a concentrated area before moving on. We can find out if there's a pattern or a trend, then we can send our Downtown Safety Unit, Problem-oriented Policing Team, or frontline police officers to try and figure out who the culprit is and see if we can catch them in the act. Especially if you have a video surveillance or doorbell camera accessing those images quickly and getting them to police can often help us to track down who's responsible for these crimes.”
Here are a few more tips that can help you prevent your Christmas cheer (and gifts) from being stolen:
- Require a signature: This means that if you aren't home to receive the package it will be redirected elsewhere, often this could be a trusted neighbor or family member.
- Set delivery time: Some delivery services will let you set a specific timeframe so you can be home and able to receive and sign for said package
- Lockbox or lockbag: This method may not be the cheapest but it certainly is effective. Install a box big enough to fit packages on your porch or zip a bag capable of being padlocked to your railing. Amazon even sells a porch pirate bag that can help with this.
- Install Motion Detecting lights: Besides a doorbell cam, this is the next best thing you can install on your porch. This can both scare off thieves and can also alert you to any unexpected guests.
