It seems like these days we receive packages at our house all week long. With more convenient and quicker shipping times from corporations, it is easier than ever to order anything we need at any time with the click of a button. Plus in a home with a larger family, you might see several packages a day! Having spent your hard-earned money on these items, including items that may be a necessity, it is important to help prevent package theft from your front porch. A Smart Home security system can do exactly that and help put your mind at ease the next time you order a package to your home.
In 2022, 1 in 7 people fell victim to front porch package theft, and many times these thieves are not taking only one package. Of that group, 22% of people had two packages stolen, and 11% had three or more packages stolen! Without the right prevention in place, it is much easier for your package to be stolen, or possibly even several. These numbers are expected to rise in coming years as more and more packages are shipped directly to homes, so now is the perfect time to take action to prevent it!
Is package theft preventable? Absolutely! You can take several steps to prevent thieves from stealing packages from your front porch or mailbox area. We listed these helpful tips and steps below that you can take, as well as why a Smart Home Security System will help prevent it:
- Install a video doorbell or front door security camera.
With the introduction of video doorbells and doorbell security cameras in the past several years, homeowners have found much greater peace of mind knowing that their front door and packages left there can be monitored at all times. This prevents thieves from attempting to steal packages knowing they will be caught on camera, and law enforcement can be notified quickly after committing the crime. Plus, video doorbells and security cameras often come with motion-detecting technology, quickly alerting the homeowner if someone is at the door through their smartphone or tablet. With a simple installation, you can have renewed peace of mind that your packages will be there when you get back home! You can also learn more about room-by-room security to help prevent burglaries and break-ins.
- Display signs and other promotions of your home security system.
Thieves, including these so-called “porch pirates”, are likely to target homes without security systems where they cannot be tracked, recorded, or caught stealing packages. By displaying your security system sign near or on your front door, or in your front yard, you are alerting the thief that they may be on camera and their presence may be alerting the homeowner of motion in the area. By simply doing this you are taking the right step toward protecting your property!
- Install motion-activated lights.
If you are away from your home for a night and a package was delivered during the day, you may fear leaving it outside on your porch overnight when it is dark and harder to catch a thief. By installing motion-activated lights near your front entrance, any motion near delivered packages will set off the light, allowing the thief to be seen even at night. In conjunction with a night-vision security camera or video doorbell, the thief will not be able to go unseen even at night, and it will thwart off the attempt early on!
- Keep your front porch visible without hiding spots.
Another thing thieves look for when stealing front porch packages is a porch that is either tucked away, has items to hide behind, or other obstructing barriers. By keeping your front porch clear of view obstructions, and keeping the front porch easily seen by neighbors, a thief is much less likely to target it. An open area is not good for staying unseen, and it can help make your home less of a target for porch pirates.
- Add delivery instructions for the shipping service.
If at all possible, ask your shipping service if they are able to place the package in a much more unseen location such as a back deck or hiding spot. However, only do this if you have security cameras that can see the package as well! Therefore if someone were to find it, you can still have a video of the thief who took it.
- Ask your neighbors for help!
If you are friendly with your neighbors, ask them to help look out for your packages and offer to do the same! Having a neighbor watch for any suspicious activity is helpful, and asking them to keep an eye out after you receive a motion detection is helpful too! We’re all in this together and it’s an easy way to help out your neighbor.
Smart Home Solutions by Airtron offers all the products and monitoring you’ll need to prevent porch theft! From video doorbells to motion-activated lights, security cameras, quick alert monitoring sent right to your smartphone and so much more, Smart Home Solutions will help keep your home and help prevent package theft. Plus, it’s all affordable!
You can check out security package options and what each of them feature, plus choose and build your own package to help fit your budget! At Smart Home Solutions we care about your safety, family, and belongings. Let us help you get back to living your life with peace of mind!