Are you tired of your UPS packages keeping getting stolen from your front door or porch?
Or sick of tedious and lengthy recovering your missing FedEx package?
Or frustrated about dealing with endless and fruitless USPS delivery complaints?
You are not alone.
Nearly one-third of American (shocking) suffered from package theft in 2017, according to a news report from USA TODAY. And the Amazon package theft runs rampant especially during holiday seasons.
How can you avoid your Amazon, UPS, FedEx, USPS or eBay packages from being stolen from your front door and prevent package theft?
Fortunately, here are some AMAZING package theft solutions to help prevent your package from being stolen from front door or porch, especially after the Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
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Alarming Package Theft Facts You Should Know
Before we tap on how to prevent package theft, below are some of the alarming package theft facts and statistics you should know to avoid becoming the next victim.
- Nearly 26 million Americans had holiday packages stolen from their front porch or doorstep in 2017, according to a survey.
- The majority of package theft occurred during the day when homeowners are out.
- San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis, Boston, Portland, Washington, Oakland, Baltimore, Atlanta and Sacramento are the top ten cities in US with the most Amazon package thefts.
- Package theft victims spent about $200 to replace each stolen package.
How to Prevent Package Theft: Top 8 Tested Ways
If you packages keep getting stolen or lost, it is high time you take some measures to stop package theft. Here are the top 8 ways proven useful by homeowners to secure package delivery.
1. Use Smart Package Lockers or Convenience Store
To avoid your Amazon package being stolen from your front porch, use Amazon Locker.
Amazon allows you to pick up your delivery in Amazon Locker in selected locations across the country with a unique code, which you can punch into the machine to retrieve your package. (See how to find an Amazon Locker near you)
Amazon locker will be the safest and convenient place to secure your Amazon package.
If your community doesn't have an Amazon Locker, and you are a frequent online shopper, use The UPS Store.
Or check the availability of lockers in nearby convenience stores, Kiosks or buy your own digital locker like BoxLock to prevent package theft or share a locker with your neighbors or friends.
2. Install Security Cameras to Prevent Package Theft
Security cameras pointing at your front door, hallway or driveway is better than no camera at all.
A security camera will serve as a great deterrent for criminals and it helps to prevent package theft, especially visible HD security camera like RLC-410 bullet security camera on the front door.
Below is a video of package theft caught on the RLC-410. Thanks to the security camera footage, the package thief was identified soon enough.
Reolink RLC-410
PoE Bullet IP Security Camera with Audio
5MP/4MP Super HD; Outdoor/Indoor Protection; 100ft Infrared Night Vision; Audio Recording; Mobile Remote Access & Control.
Buy security cameras that are at least 1440p. Optical zoom and high-resolution surveillance cameras make a positive identification when package theft happens, like 5MP Super HD front door security camera Reolink RLC-511.
You might ask what if some thieves stole the unattended packages even though the surveillance camera is rolling.
So how can we stop them from stealing your package?
A good solution to secure package delivery is buying a front door security camera packed with built-in siren, HD resolution, and motion sensor, like Reolink Argus 2 wire-free security camera.
Video Transcription:
When the postman approaches your front door, the motion-activated security camera Argus 2 will record and send instant push notifications to your phone. So you can know when your packages arrive and also inform the delivery man to drop your package at an unnoticeable place via the two-way audio.
Reolink Argus 2
100% Wire-Free Starlight Camera
Rechargeable Battery & Solar Powered; Outdoor/Indoor Protection; 1080 Full HD; Starlight Night Vision; 2-Way Audio; Live View Anytime Anywhere.
Front door security cameras help you to remotely view your front porch when you are unavailable to retrieve your package, rerouting, rescheduling or requiring signature delivery without the presence of notices or trusted neighbor.
It also acts as great package theft deterrent too.
Because package thieves will be charged with theft, property crime or other offenses once caught, for example, If a porch poacher steals USPS package, he or she is subject to serious criminal consequences including federal prison time and fines.
3. Have Packages Delivered to Your Workplace/Office
We have heard many people complaining about package thieves or bad neighbors sneaking around the street and looting drop-off deliveries, irresponsible mailman or carriers leaving packages on the front door without even knocking or ringing the door, pre-signing your delivery without your consent, or delaying home delivery by sending notifications too early.
It's so frustrating.
One of the best ways to stop package theft in the first place, is to have your package delivered to your office or friends' houses that you trust, leaving no opportunities for the porch pirates.
4. Get Amazon Key for Your Package Delivery
To secure package delivery, you could try Amazon Key which combines a smart lock and security camera that will allow delivery services to place packages just inside your front door.
Of course, if you are okay with letting strangers into your house.
Or you could also have the package delivered into your cars called in-car delivery by using Amazon Key to prevent package theft.
5. Require Signature on Delivery to Stop Package Theft
Many customers grumble about delivery man signing the unauthorized packages and leaving them wide open on the porch or doorstep, making them desirable for package snatcher.
To prevent your package being stolen off the front porch, side door, back porch, or garage area, ask for signature delivery.
If your package is delivered by UPS/DHL/FedEx, consult your sender and require delivery confirmation signature.
Signature-required delivery should be strictly followed by couriers.
Did you know? If your package that demands delivery by YOUR signature was left unattended, or even worse, lost, because they didn't follow the protocol, delivery companies are liable to legal actions and you are entitled to a full refund or replacement.
6. Reroute or Reschedule Delivery to Prevent Package Theft
If you are not sure whether or not you are home from holiday to receive your package when the delivery truck pulls up to your front door, you can track shipment information either on package tracking app or order information in advance.
To prevent the packages from being stolen, make a phone call to the delivery man or call your neighbors or friends to help receive the package.
Both UPS and FedEx offer web apps to help reroute parcel to another address and reschedule your package delivery at your convenience for a fee, for example, FedEx's Delivery Manager, and UPS My Choice premium membership for $40 a year.
If you are using other delivery services, online shipment tracking information will be available. Notifying the driver in advance online when your package is due is reassuring.
7. Require Vacation Package Hold to Secure Package Delivery
Finally going away for holiday, you can place a hold on your package to prevent package theft.
Many delivery companies such as USPS and FedEx offer a free service to uphold your package at their terminals or delivery centers for a period of time.
To check FedEx delivery options for free online and free USPS mail holding service here to apply for a package holiday hold online without worrying about lost package or package being stolen off the doorstep.
While UPS will charge $5 for every package rescheduled or delivered to a UPS retail location on UPS My Choice.
8. Insure Your Upcoming Packages
I bet you don't want to go through all the troubles to get your missing package back after an amazing holiday.
So insuring your precious holiday parcel, for example, Halloween costume, Thanksgiving gifts or Christmas packages in the first place will guarantee you reimbursement if unfortunately your delivery was stolen or lost before you lay your hand on it.
And you can also find out more about what to do if your package was stolen.
Your Ideas Are Wanted
Do you ever fall victim to Amazon package theft? What are the good ways you use to prevent package theft? Share your thoughts and ideas down below and we'd love to hear from you.
Requesting pre-notification from either fed-x or UPS is pointless since they have started using USPS to deliver their packages...I had a printer stolen last Friday because I was expecting it to deliver to my side door which is behind a 6 ft tall fence with a gate, but instead the package came by the postoffice who did not notify me but simply sat a box with HP printer written all over it, on my front porch. My mail is depositing thru a mail slot...I have no reason to frequent my front porch most days so I had no idea the package had even been delivered. Postmaster confirmed it had but also tells me that side door delivery by the postman is not allowed so once again the thieves of the area will have free pickins on my porch. Since I am slightly handicapped, ordering on line has helped alleviate some painful steps for me but unless all delivery people can be required to notify the receivers of packages, it will just keep happening all over america. I am in the truck driving industry and all deliveries have to be signed for and inspected before the driver can leave the delivery. Why it should be any different for UPS, Fed-x, or USPS drivers is just plain favoritism and should not be allowed. If we all stick together and demand signature delivery for free, we can make them responsible rather than lazy and uncaring!!!
Barbara, sorry for your loss. If there is a possibility that you can lodge a complaint against the delivery company or local Postal Inspection Service to help retrieve stolen package. For more info, you can refer to https://reolink.com/what-to-do-when-package-stolen-from-porch/.
It's frustrating to go through such unfortunate. In order to avoid such incident in the future, we strongly suggest taking necessary precautions, demanding signature-required delivery(not just notification) and having a surveillance camera monitoring your front porch. Home security cameras go a long way in protecting what matters to you.
Barbara I understand you have a disability but let me tell you about me. I am currently 26 years old and most of my life I have had CMT (Charcot Marie Tooth) Syndrome it is a disability that affects the nerves from firing to the brain correctly. Every day that I wake up is a living hell and the pain is so severe that sometimes I want to cry and most of my life I was in a wheelchair do to the pain, but you know what? I don't sit on the internet and moan and complain about how people are lazy and uncaring because they don't bow down and kiss my feet because I have a disability. Do you know what I do for a living? I am an IT that has to stand on his legs 24/7 and walks to work. No one is lazy you are
I work during the time delivery happens. so I agree with Barbara about having the post office following the same rules as FedEx or other mail delivery businesses. Side door delivery would be very nice.
Comparing your disabilities to someone else's ('I'm worse off than you are and I can do it so you must be lazy’) is one of the most idiotic things I've ever heard. Way to be a compassionate, empathic, and humble member of society. go you. The fact that you think you can compare your disabilities to others, especially when you don't even know what those are, is just asinine.
That was really uncalled for. Happy you have been able to work through your's, but to think someone is just lazy because they may have a problem with theirs is just not very nice. After all she was the victim here and has a right to complain.
Barbara I understand you have a disability but let me tell you about me. I am currently 26 years old and most of my life I have had CMT (Charcot Marie Tooth) Syndrome it is a disability that affects the nerves from firing to the brain correctly. Every day that I wake up is a living hell and the pain is so severe that sometimes I want to cry and most of my life I was in a wheelchair do to the pain, but you know what? I don't sit on the internet and moan and complain about how people are lazy and uncaring because they don't bow down and kiss my feet because I have a disability. Do you know what I do for a living? I am an IT that has to stand on his legs 24/7 and walks to work. The that's lazy is you
Looks like you are spending time on the Internet criticizing others and going on about what a big deal you are and how great and mighty it is that you endure this grinding pain 24 seven which nobody want s to hear about it. There is a problem with packages being stolen . That is the subject. We are having problems with baboon pigs stealing packages.
I hate it and very angry when the package is stolen. But sign and deliver DOES NOT work, because I (and so are most people) work during the day. I do not have time to sit at home all day waiting. Thus, the reason why I have to order online all the times, because my time is very limited. I propose that UPS to deliver in the evening when people are home from work.
Again traffic, it would raise cost by 300%
Also GOBOXGO.com prevents package theft by connecting on-line shoppers with stay-at-home poeple!
Here is a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN057WhsYTk
Seriously if more people started to shoot these thieves – less packages would disappear.
LOL If we shot all thieves you would be dead.
Nope not me
Why can't the USP deliver in the evening, when most people return home from work? That certainly will prevent all of the package thief. Or even better yet, have autonomous cars deliver package in evening, it calls when arrive, then you the special code when you order to retrieve the package.
You can stop with that request right now. I do not want evening deliveries, however, I'm not opposed to per request options for those that do.
Traffic, thats why.
Thanks for the article.
I want one or several! Sign me up.
Is this still a big problem in US?
#9 Save old Amazon boxes and fill them with dog shit. Eventually they will think twice!
Good idea
I have a very good solution for this problem
Yes, we were ”thrilled” to know you ”have a very good solution to this problem”, & then proceeded to not mention so much as a whisper about what that actual solution supposedly is.
Is this still a big problem in the US?
Hi, Chris, according to the latest statistics, 31% of Americans had experienced package theft while 25.9 million Americans had their packages stolen during the holiday season. So you can see that the package theft is still on the rise and effective measures should be taken to prevent package missing.
What should I do if someone steals the package containing the security cameras?
Hi, Donovan, even if your package is stolen, you can follow these effective tips here to get it back, https://reolink.com/what-to-do-when-package-stolen-from-porch/. Hope it helps.
One simple way to help with this is to require the delivery person to ring the doorbell or knock loudly. I have had numerous packages delivered while I was in my living room and did not know it till the next morning when I went to get the paper. It would take them two seconds to press the doorbell button. Why such a simple rule is not followed is beyond me. I have seen delivery people many times just run up to a door, drop the box and run off without any effort to alert the people they have a package.
Hi, Bertram, thanks for sharing your ideas with us.^_^
The only solution is to kill them.
Maybe the delivery folks (UPS, FEDEX, USPS, etc) could bother to ring the doorbell. We constantly have packages delivered while we're home and find them hours later when we walk out the front door.
this is a very simple solution that will prevent 90 percent of theft: make a hiding space on your porch so when theives drive by they don't see your packages.
Someone e needs to come up with a box that's hooked to house or like a large mailbox that you leave open for delivery man, when he shuts it it locks it is anchored to house garage, or is on pole in ground anchored in cement.??
Safer neighborhood ? They are even stealing from safer neighborhoods,and I even have security cameras.
I was googling to find some sort of lock box to keep on your porch
There is also something called a locker for packages which is pretty interesting. I just ran across it, where delivery drivers like fedex or usps can scan a barcode and place a package securely inside. Would work great in addition to the roelink camera!