Best Ways to Help Prevent Porch Pirates

Porch piracy is becoming more and more prevalent, especially as we continue to rely more heavily on delivery items.

Depending on where you live, there may be hundreds of people each day passing by the front door of your home, which means hundreds of eyes on the items that you’ve ordered online. All it takes is one person looking for the chance to get something for free to grab your delivery package before you have time to get it inside.

According to a study published by Security.org, porch pirates stole more than $12 billion in packages in 2023. The same study indicates that some 58 million Americans reported being the victim of porch pirates, with residents of Alaska, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, and North Dakota being the most likely to fall prey to porch pirates.

In today’s world, virtually everything can be delivered to your house. With that in mind, you need to know how to protect yourself against porch pirates. Implementing these tips can improve your security while stopping porch pirates from taking the products that you ordered.

Install a Doorbell Camera

Doorbell cameras, like those you can get from Ring, Nest, Arlo, and Blink are effective tools when it comes to stopping porch pirates. Being able to monitor your doorstep in time allows you to have some sense of security, even when you’re not home.

These cameras usually have motion detection built in, which allows you to see what’s happening at your front door, even when you’re not there.

Many models also allow for communication through the camera, which gives you a chance to speak to the person standing at your front door. Even if you’re not home, making a porch pirate think that you’re inside the house is often enough to scare them.

In fact, the visible presence of a camera over your recently-delivered package is often enough to deter porch pirates, since they know that you’ll be able to see their face and what they’re doing.

In the event that someone steals something from your front porch, try to find the moment that they were there on your doorbell camera. Most companies allow you to save footage, so you’ll be able to contact the authorities with video evidence of who stole your property.

Utilize Package Lockers

There are multiple options when it comes to utilizing package lockers, and they’re all great ways to prevent porch pirates. Package lockers are weather-proof lockers that delivery items can put your package in. You can order your own package locker to have on your front porch, or you can have your delivery sent to a package locker in a public location.

The models that you can install at your home usually come with a keypad or connect to an app. This allows you or your delivery driver to open the locker, place the parcel inside, and then lock it back. If that’s not a good option for you, you can also choose to have your deliveries sent to a package locker in a public place.

Some companies, such as Amazon and FedEx allow you to pick up packages at your convenience with a code that’s sent straight to your phone or tablet.

Set Up Delivery Notifications

One of the most powerful tools that you have when it comes to stopping porch pirates is being informed. Virtually every delivery company allows for delivery notifications that let you know the moment that your package gets delivered. In most cases, you can track your package from the delivery hub to your front door.

By being informed about where your package is, you can take steps to protect it before it arrives. For instance, if you have a delivery locker on your front porch, you can make sure that it’s open before the delivery driver arrives.

If you’re out running errands, you can make it a point to get home before your delivery arrives. Being informed eliminates the element of surprise that porch pirates rely on.

Require a Signature for Deliveries

While this one does make things a bit more inconvenient, it’s a powerful tool in preventing porch pirates. While most companies require a signature for large, expensive items, as the buyer, you have the ability to require a signature on any delivery that’s being sent to your home.

Unfortunately, this means that you’ll have to either make sure that someone is at your home to receive the package or run the risk of the delivery being delayed.

However, when someone at the house has to sign for the delivery, you don’t have to worry about your items getting into the wrong hands. You may not want to bother with going through this process when you’re having small, inexpensive items delivered, but if you live in an area where porch piracy is a major problem, it’s certainly worth considering.

Work With a Trusted Neighbor

Having good neighbors is invaluable, and it’s also one of the most effective ways to prevent porch piracy. Let one or more trusted neighbors know when you’re expecting a delivery and that you won’t be home when it comes.

Ideally, one of the people in your neighborhood that you trust the most lives close by and can pick up your package for you. In return, you can offer to get their deliveries when they’re not home.

If you really want to take things to the next level, helping to create a neighborhood watch in your area is a great way to deter porch piracy. Having a group of like-minded citizens who look out for one another is a great way to create a safe, secure atmosphere in your neighborhood.

Protecting Yourself Against Porch Pirates

As companies continue to grow and evolve, deliveries are going to become more and more common. Knowing how to protect what's rightfully yours is crucial.

These tips are all effective ways to stop porch pirates from getting their hands on the items that you’ve spent your hard-earned money on. By implementing some modern technology and working with your neighbors, you can create an atmosphere in which everyone’s packages are safe.