How to prevent package thieves during the holiday shopping season

VAN ALSTYNE, Texas (KXII) – With plenty of online shopping happening on both Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday, porch pirates will soon be looking to take advantage of the opportunity.

Porch piracy is a growing problem all year long – in 2023 alone, package thieves stole more than $8 billion worth of goods, according to Security.org estimates.

The problem gets even worse during the holidays, as nearly 1 in 5 Americans report having had a package stolen that contained a gift for someone else.

Van Alstyne Police Chief Tim Barnes said the best way to keep these packages safe is simple.

“Honestly, having it delivered to a populated location is a great idea,” Barnes said. “That way you know the package is coming from the porch.”

He said it was not a problem often seen locally, but there was a system in place to help those in need.

“We allow people to have their packages delivered to the police department address and then they can come in and pick them up at any time,” Barnes said. “It’s our 8th year and it’s been a success every year.”

Additionally, shoppers can always ask a trusted neighbor to hold their packages or have them delivered to their place of work.

Another option is to have the driver hide the delivery or put it in a locker. If a would-be thief can’t see a package from the street, they’re much less likely to go out onto the porch just to see if there’s one there.

If a thief makes it to the porch, Barnes says a doorbell or security camera can be a great deterrent.

“There is a possibility of these being caught and later being caught and prosecuted,” he said.

If the worst happens and you are sure a package has been stolen, immediately report it to local police and contact the seller for a replacement.

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