5 Simple Ways to Outsmart Porch Pirates

Package delivery has become a way of life. The average person in the United States receives 21 packages each year. And for many people, that number is much higher.

Whether you’re shopping for clothes, food, or gifts, online shopping has made it easier than ever to get whatever you want right to your front door.

But there’s another group of people who love seeing deliveries—porch pirates.

Porch pirates are thieves that target packages, brazenly stealing them right from a person’s front porch. It’s a growing problem that has affected more than half of all shoppers. And it's an expensive problem, too; the average package theft is valued between $50 and $100. 

Luckily, you don't have to be a victim of porch pirates. Here are five easy ways you can outsmart them:

1. Have your packages delivered to your workplace

If you or your spouse work in an office or your employer allows you to receive personal mail at work, you can have your packages delivered directly to your office. From there, depending on your company, the packages will either be delivered right to your desk or held safely in the mail room until you can pick them up.

2. Require signatures for packages

When you require a signature for your packages, the delivery person can’t leave them at your doorstep unless you or someone else are home to physically sign for the package. They will try and redeliver the next day, or you can leave instructions to hold it for pickup. This is an added security measure that ensures your packages aren’t sitting on your doorstep. 

3. Get a package locker

If you’re expecting an order from Amazon, you can opt to have your packages delivered directly to a special locker you can access with a code. You can also sign up for a PO Box or UPS box. Although you will have to pay for this, it offers protection from theft and the ability to pick up your packages at your convenience.

4. Opt-in to delivery alerts

Sometimes, you expect to be home when a delivery arrives, only to find that it was delivered sooner or later than you anticipated. You can opt to receive tracking alerts from most retailers or shipping companies, so you’ll know immediately when a package has been delivered. Then, if you aren’t home, you can ask a neighbor to pick it up for you and hang on to it until you get home.

5. Get a Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro Pro

A doorbell camera lets you see who’s coming to the door, but only the Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro Pro has the ability to proactively protect your packages from theft thanks to Smart Sentry™, an AI-powered feature that deters package theft. Here’s how it works:

• Smart Sentry™ detects when a package is delivered to your door, then sends a notification to your smartphone.
• If anyone approaches your package, Smart Sentry activates by illuminating the camera’s LED light ring and playing a sound deterrent through the 65 db speaker. This also catches the potential thief’s attention, causing them to look up so the camera can capture their face.

This camera acts as a powerful deterrent to would-be porch pirates who would rather skedaddle off your porch than have video evidence of their theft. 

The Doorbell Camera Pro also comes with other features that make it a smart addition to any home, including: 

• Wide angle view. The camera features an exclusive 180x180 field of vision that allows you to see the highest, widest view of your front porch and visitors, so you can clearly see everything from packages to tall visitors. 
• Two-way talk. The two-way talk feature makes it easy to communicate with anyone on your front porch. You can give a delivery driver instructions for packages, tell your kids to come inside for dinner, or even tell a would-be porch pirate to get off your property.
• Clear picture day or night. 1080 HD footage with High Dynamic Range (HDR) provides a clear picture that captures important details, and infrared night vision means footage isn't compromised even after the sun goes down.

• Answer the door right from your phone. You'll receive notifications on your smartphone whenever there's activity at the door, whether they ring the bell or not. You can also answer the door from your phone whether you're in another room or another state. 
• Integrate with your smart lock. When part of a complete Vivint system, your Doorbell Camera Pro also integrates with your smart lock. This makes it easy to let visitors or delivery drivers in right from your phone, then lock up immediately afterwards. 

For true porch pirate protection–along with a plethora of other helpful features–the Doorbell Camera Pro is an easy and smart way to outsmart porch pirates.

Take a smart approach to porch pirates 

Porch pirates have one goal–to get your package and get away as fast as possible without being seen. With these easy tips, you can outsmart porch pirates–or keep them away completely–so your packages stay where they belong.

Find out how you can outsmart porch pirates with the smartest doorbell camera on the market. Contact our Smart Home Pros today at 800.646.1469 for a free quote on a custom smart home system.