If you have ever ordered anything online before, then you might have encountered the situation of having your property stolen from you before you could receive the package. It's happened to thousands of people across the United States and elsewhere.
According to video security company Blink, it's people who live in rural areas who are more likely to be victimized and have their packages stolen from them. And the area where it's reportedly said to be the worst? North Dakota.
In that region, you're roughly 26x more likely than the average American to have your packages stolen.
Porch pirates as the media likes to call them, are responsible for roughly $20 million in theft every year just in the US.
After losing various packages, a myriad of victims have taken to social media to express their frustration and to call out the criminal.
In many cases, the crime is often going to go unsolved, unless there are details that can be provided such as any vehicle description, video footage of the incident, or some other information that might help authorities to identify who took the package.
To try and prevent porch pirates from stealing your property, there have been a number of suggestions made as to what you can do.
If you are going to be at work for most of the day, some suggest that having the package delivered to your work address is a better option than to your home, so that someone will be around to receive or sign for the package.
The issue of porch pirates has prompted many retailers to consider what possible solutions they might be able to come up with to address the problem. Could they go with more discreet packaging, offer package theft insurance, require a signature for the package?, a number of ideas have been suggested.
Getting Creative...
One man from Washington had enough with thieves intercepting his packages and so he came up with a booby-trapped box that scared the thieves away.
The Blank Box he called it, was an empty box that he left on his porch and it was rigged with a 12-gauge shotgun blank that would go off if someone tried to tamper with the box.
It worked so well that he says they never came back and he is now selling them on a website, along with other porch pirate-themed merchandise.
Police have issued a warning however when it comes to using such a contraption. They say that if the box were to go off and injure a thief that you might then be held liable.
Shipping companies like UPS have also made upgrades to their mail boxes to try and prevent theft, establishing a network of UPS Access Points, that you can see in the image above.
These access points are located at grocery stores, retail locations, delis, and other venues, to provide a safe storage place for users.
And perhaps one thing these companies should make sure that they do first is be sure that there isn't anyone within their own ranks that might feel inclined to take something that doesn't belong to them.
After a recent investigation by Inside Edition, which involved leaving a bait package outside of a home that had a GPS tracking device inside, it was found that one of the thieves who had stolen packages was a U.S. postal worker himself.
Back in 2016, Amazon started selling a Porch Pirate Bag that allows users to have their packages locked up to try and prevent them from being stolen. The bag (seen in the image above) locks to a post, door handle, or some side gate etc, and after the mail delivery person inserts the package, they lock up the bag.
Amazon has also experimented with its home delivery that allows for packages to be brought directly inside the home, rather than leaving them on the porch outside. Though this has sparked some controversy and worrisome privacy concerns. They are looking to also develop a smart doorbell service and an option for having packages delivered to the trunk of your car.
More than 31 percent of U.S. shoppers admit that at some point they have experienced package theft.
Another creative idea that's been thought of to try and address the problem here, is an item called BoxLock.
The BoxLock is a product that has a padlock that is connected to the internet. The mail delivery person scans the package, which opens the lock so that they can gain entry to the box, they then drop off your package, close and lock it back up.
Some of those who are working on trying to come up with a solution to the problem, have said that they are confident and have no doubt that in time, technology will bring about the right solution to try and meet the need here.
Pics:
pixabay
via twitter
via wgntv
UPS via mytotalretail
via amazon
Boxlock inc, via KTNV
Sources:
http://www.kwch.com/content/news/Tips-to-prevent-mail-and-package-theft-462399383.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/21/package-theft-is-a-big-risk-especially-during-the-holiday-shopping-season.html
http://wgntv.com/2017/12/18/man-fed-up-with-porch-thieves-sells-booby-trapped-box-that-sends-crooks-running/
https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12/09/had-a-package-stolen-off-your-doorstep-how-people-are-combating-porch-piracy/
http://www.insideedition.com/investigation-uses-boxes-tracking-devices-inside-catch-porch-pirates-40557
http://www.insideedition.com/investigation-uses-boxes-tracking-devices-inside-catch-porch-pirates-40557
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/10/amazon-is-in-talks-with-phrame-and-is-working-on-a-smart-doorbell.html
https://www.recode.net/2017/10/25/16538828/amazon-key-in-home-delivery-prime-camera-lock
https://www.ktnv.com/news/new-technology-keeps-packages-safe-from-porch-pirates
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