How to avoid having packages stolen this holiday season
More Triangle residents are getting their packages stolen than previous years.
The Raleigh Police Department told WRAL 5 On Your Side that at least 230 packages have been stolen this year.
Raleigh police officer Rodrick Lee expects that number to go up as more Americans do their holiday shopping online, and in his experience, no neighborhood or style of home is immune.
“It happens all over the place,” Lee said.
About 62% of package thefts occur in single-family homes, according to statistics from Lending Tree. About 25% happen in apartment buildings.
If you think having a Ring camera will protect you, think again. Americans who’ve reported a stolen package or delivery have at least one security camera, according to LendingTree.
Lee told WRAL 5 On Your Side that’s true in his experience, but Ring camera footage can help officers track down criminals.
Recently, a Raleigh resident in the Eastgate neighborhood spotted multiple opened packages along a creek near Hardimont Road.
“There are thieves afoot. I saw several large Amazon Prime packages in the creek,” she wrote on the Nextdoor app.
WRAL 5 On Your Side drove to the location referenced and found two packages with two separate addresses. One box had absorbent pads still inside, the other was empty.
WRAL 5 On Your Side took the boxes back to the listed addresses. The empty box belonged to Sarah Bilger. Bilger was stunned when 5 On Your Side explained where the package was found. Bilger believed the package was a Christmas gift from a friend and did not mince words when asked what she would say to the person who stole the package.
“Thanks a lot. That’s a real nice way show Christmas spirit,” Bilger said.
Package thieves are often referred to as porch pirates. When asked who a typical porch pirate is Lee said it’s hard to know.
“There’s no set pattern," Lee said. "It’s not all juveniles or it’s all adults. It’s just a range of people that are driving by or walking by and taking them off the porch."
Lee said package thefts are avoidable if homeowner make small changes.
- Ask your delivery person to put your packages behind a bush or on the side of your house. A porch pirate won’t want to waste time snooping around.
- Get your packages delivered to your work, to the physical version of the store you shopped at online, or to somewhere else you know a trusted person will be.
- Consider an Amazon locker.
- Choose the option of signing for a package when possible.
Porch pirates are hard to catch, and the stolen packages are rarely recovered, Lee said. However, Lee said officers make a point of alerting residents in areas where they see an increase in package theft.
“We will usually put out a message on the Nextdoor app," Lee said.
If your package is stolen, report it to the police. A recent survey showed only 17% of porch pirate victims do, but doing so can help prevent repeat offenders.
Once you report the situation to police, contact the business you bought it at. If that doesn’t work, dispute the charge with your credit card company, or you can work with your homeowner’s insurance or renters’ insurance and file a claim since this is considered property theft.
