With online shopping companies like Amazon becoming more popular, it's also leading to more packages being delivered to people’s homes.
But that also means thieves are ready to pounce for anyone who isn’t home at the time of delivery.
It doesn’t take a holiday for thieves to steal parcels from someone’s front porch, but with Christmas in a few months, online shoppers are being warned about “porch pirates” and being reminded to find ways to combat the trend.
“We certainly seem to be hearing more about the crime,” Barrie police communications coordinator Jennett Mays said. “I don’t have specific numbers on it, but we know that there are definitely people who are willing to capitalize on someone’s trusting nature, (that) being anyone who orders online and expects to grab their parcel when they get home from work or wherever they are.”
The U.S. released stats in 2018 that showed close to 25 million Americans had experienced parcel theft in 2017, a 10 per cent rise from two years previous.
Mays said that's bound to go up around Christmas, the busiest time of the year for online shopping.
“We would ask that homeowners be mindful year-round, but particularly during the holidays,” she said. “There are a lot of shoppers choosing to purchase online and having their parcels sent to their home. If we know that, so do the people who would choose to do wrong. There are plenty of steps you can take to prevent the theft of your items.”
Parcels contain tracking codes that allow you to see just where your package is at any moment. If it is close to your home, you can arrange to make sure you’re there to get it when it arrives, police advise.
Having a neighbour or friend watch for the delivery, or having the parcel dropped off at your work, are other ways to stop your porch from being picked.
Mays suggests the out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach.
“There are boxes you can get that work as lock boxes, but even just having any type of box where the delivery person can set the package in is good,” she said. “If thieves don’t see it, they usually don’t think to check."
Installing security cameras is another option, which provides police with potential evidence.
"It then allows us to view them and ... we have a fighting chance of tracking down those responsible," Mays said.
