How to protect your packages and prevent them from being abducted?

 

The holiday season is fast approaching, are you worried about porch pirates who may come and steal your precious package off the front door? Don’t worry we’ve compiled a list of ways to protect your packages from being stolen. Let’s delve.

Track your courier

Perhaps this is the first step you should take to ensure your package is safely delivered in your hands. 

Most courier companies allow you to track your parcel's shipping status. Having said that, your shipment may get delayed especially during this busy period ahead of the winter holidays.

After confirming your package delivery date, if you don’t receive it on that day, contact your shipping company right away.

Fix a camera

Now, security cameras can’t guarantee your package's safety. Thieves can still swipe your package. But, it will surely deter them from snagging it away if they see a doorbell camera or a large camera. If God forbid, a package of yours gets stolen, the camera's recording will help the police to track the thief down.

Pro tip – When installing security cameras, you’ll want to fix larger ones that cover every possible vulnerable space near your porch. The more space it can cover, the better. It’s a better deterrent than doorbell cameras which are good but not conspicuous enough to scare away the thief. Besides, if you have a big dog who’s trained to scurry the thieves away, nothing like it!

Mention instructions as to where to drop it off

You can simply add instructions to keep your shipping company from dropping it near the front porch where the chances of theft are higher. You could rather ask them to leave your stuff near a side door or someplace that is not accessible to porch poachers.

Mention another safer drop location

The best way to keep thieves away is simply never to have packages dropped near your porch or at your entrance especially when you’re not available to receive it. Protect your packages by having them delivered to some other location where someone you trust is physically present to receive your package. It’s a simple yet safe way to avoid letting your package fall into the wrong hands!

You can consider the following options when delivering your package to an alternate address-

1.      You can request your friend or your trusted neighbour to receive your courier. They will pick it up for you whenever it arrives thus ensuring no theft happens.

2.      Reroute it to your office. Your workplace is where there’s probably going to be responsible for staff and security arrangements. They will ensure the safety of your package. Or, you can simply ask a colleague to collect it for you!

There are other ways to protect your packages and prevent them from being stolen which are worth considering. Amazon Key, for example, provides in-garage or car trunk drop off. You may want to try this option if you want to consider something else than Amazon’s in-home Key delivery service. (But then again, you need to see if you’re okay with a delivery guy gaining access to your garage or home to drop your package.)