Safeguard Your Christmas Deliveries: How to Keep Porch Pirates from Ruining Your Holiday

Picture this: You’re heading home from work, excited to start wrapping the Christmas gifts you ordered online that were delivered today. But when you get home, there are no packages in sight.

Your heart plummets. You’ve become a victim of “porch pirates,” and those carefully chosen Christmas presents have been stolen right off your doorstep.

Do you have confirmation that the package was actually delivered? Delivery drivers are especially busy during the holiday season and there are several reasons that your delivery may be delayed.

Some delivery services text a photo of the packages they’ve set by your door. If you don’t have visual verification, check the company’s order information or tracking number to confirm delivery.

Is anyone else at home? Ask family members or roommates if they brought in any packages.

The “culprit” may even be a well-meaning neighbor who grabbed your boxes for safekeeping.

Many households these days have security cameras. Check the day’s footage to confirm the theft. You might also be able to verify delivery and/or theft via a neighbor’s security camera.

If the package really is missing, contact the retailer. You may be entitled to a replacement. The retailer also may be able to file a claim with the delivery company.

For instance, if you’ve provided an email, Christmas Central will send shipping updates and delivery confirmation. If you think your delivery is missing, go to Christmas Central’s online Help Desk or call 1-844-329-5677 for personal assistance. In many cases, we can file a claim with the delivery service and work with you on replacing your order.

Your local police department will know if there have been other thefts in your area. If so, they may already be investigating.

However, if the value of your stolen items is low, and if there is no concrete evidence of a theft, such as security camera footage, there may be little they can do to recover your property.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t call the police. Depending on the value of the items, a police report may be required when filing a claim with the shipping company, credit card company or your homeowners’ insurance.

Value Penguin notes that while Americans know porch piracy is common, only one in four actually take steps to protect their deliveries. However, there are many simple ways to safeguard your purchases.

• Tracking: Many retailers and shipping services now offer digital tracking services. These let you follow the progress of your order in transit, notify you of delays and confirm the delivery of an item.

• Schedule Deliveries: If you can, schedule deliveries for a time when you plan to be at home.

• Special Instructions: Half the secret of securing your deliveries is keeping them out of sight. An enclosed sunporch, fenced backyard, garage or even a row of hedges can hide your deliveries from prowling porch pirates. Include specific delivery instructions when you place your order.

• Store Pickup: Sometimes you can shop online, but pick up your orders at a nearby retail store. This is a convenience that saves time and sometimes shipping costs. It’s a great way to protect your purchases and claim them at a time that works best for you.

• Other Location: If you order online frequently and you’re uncomfortable leaving deliveries out in the open, consider using an alternate shipping address, such as your work address, or the home of a relative or neighbor. People living in apartment buildings may be able to have deliveries sent to the administrative office.

• Lockers: If your favorite e-commerce site doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar location, you may be able to have your packages delivered at a pickup location other than your home. For instance, some CVS stores accommodate UPS package pickup and some Walgreens stores are a delivery center for FedEx.

• Lockbox: Package delivery boxes are medium to large size containers you can place outside your home to secure deliveries. These boxes keep your packages out of sight and protect them from the elements. A few of the pricier boxes offer security cameras and app capabilities. Some can be permanently bolted to your front porch.

• Doorbell Camera: If you have a home smart device, you may already have a doorbell camera. A smart security camera not only lets you see who’s at the door, it starts recording every time motion is detected. You’ll have a visual record of the delivery itself and thieves will be much less likely to lift your packages if they’re on camera.

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