Where is my Package

Online shopping is one of the great luxuries of our time. There is a question that every buyer shopping online usually asks themselves when their package goes missing, “where is my package”? The phrase porch pirate dates back to the early 2010s. A porch pirate is someone that steals newly delivered packages from other people’s porches. The offenders are both men and women and the crime usually takes 30 seconds or less. The problem and term, porch pirate, spread in the decade as more and more people shopped online. The term was furthered by social media and local news reporting on the issues. People started installing smart doorbells and cameras like Ring, which can provide video of activity around doorways.

Fences, cameras or vehicles parked in the driveway did not seem to deter them. A few thieves appeared to be actually following delivery vehicles looking to snatch the packages as soon as it was delivered. Experts say there are several ways you can reduce your risk of getting looted by a porch pirate.

1. Don’t leave your delivered mail and packages unattended, the best way to prevent mail theft is to receive your packages in person. Just as you would not leave your wallets and purses on the front seat of an unlocked car overnight, mail and packages should not be left sitting in mailboxes or on front porches for any length of time.

2. Shipping packages to your work address or to a trusted neighbor who will be home.

3. Install a secure delivery box at your home.

4. Customize the delivery. If you know the package will not fit in your mailbox and you won’t be home to receive it, you can authorize the carrier to leave it in a specified location.

If these steps are followed it will minimize the risk of you asking yourself, “Where is my package?”