How to Prevent Package Theft during Holidays: Top 8 Effective Ways

Are you tired of your UPS packages keeping getting stolen from your front door or porch?

Or sick of tedious and lengthy recovering your missing FedEx package?

Or frustrated about dealing with endless and fruitless USPS delivery complaints?

You are not alone.

Nearly one-third of American (shocking) suffered from package theft in 2017, according to a news report from USA TODAY. And the Amazon package theft runs rampant especially during holiday seasons.

How can you avoid your Amazon, UPS, FedEx, USPS or eBay packages from being stolen from your front door and prevent package theft?

Fortunately, here are some AMAZING package theft solutions to help prevent your package from being stolen from front door or porch, especially after the Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Alarming Package Theft Facts You Should Know

Before we tap on how to prevent package theft, below are some of the alarming package theft facts and statistics you should know to avoid becoming the next victim.

• Nearly 26 million Americans had holiday packages stolen from their front porch or doorstep in 2017, according to a survey.
• The majority of package theft occurred during the day when homeowners are out.
• San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis, Boston, Portland, Washington, Oakland, Baltimore, Atlanta and Sacramento are the top ten cities in US with the most Amazon package thefts.
• Package theft victims spent about $200 to replace each stolen package.

How to Prevent Package Theft: Top 8 Tested Ways

If you packages keep getting stolen or lost, it is high time you take some measures to stop package theft. Here are the top 8 ways proven useful by homeowners to secure package delivery.

1. Use Smart Package Lockers or Convenience Store

To avoid your Amazon package being stolen from your front porch, use Amazon Locker.

Amazon allows you to pick up your delivery in Amazon Locker in selected locations across the country with a unique code, which you can punch into the machine to retrieve your package. (See how to find an Amazon Locker near you)

Amazon locker will be the safest and convenient place to secure your Amazon package.

If your community doesn’t have an Amazon Locker, and you are a frequent online shopper, use The UPS Store.

Or check the availability of lockers in nearby convenience stores, Kiosks or buy your own digital locker like BoxLock to prevent package theft or share a locker with your neighbors or friends.

2. Install Security Cameras to Prevent Package Theft

Security cameras pointing at your front door, hallway or driveway is better than no camera at all.

A security camera will serve as a great deterrent for criminals and it helps to prevent package theft, especially visible HD security camera like RLC-810A bullet security camera on the front door.

Below is a video of the delivery man doing a bad job caught on the RLC-810A.

Buy security cameras that are at least 1440p. Optical zoom and high-resolution surveillance cameras make a positive identification when package theft happens, like 8MP ultra HD front door security camera Reolink RLC-811A.

You might ask what if some thieves stole the unattended packages even though the surveillance camera is rolling.

So how can we stop them from stealing your package?

A good solution to secure package delivery is buying a front door security camera packed with built-in siren, 2K 4MP super HD , and motion sensor, like Reolink Argus 3 Pro wire-free security camera.

When the postman approaches your front door, the smart motion detection security camera Argus 3 Pro will record and send instant push notifications to your phone. So you can know when your packages arrive and also inform the delivery man to drop your package at an unnoticeable place via the two-way audio.

Front door security cameras help you to remotely view your front porch when you are unavailable to retrieve your package, rerouting, rescheduling or requiring signature delivery without the presence of notices or trusted neighbor.

It also acts as great package theft deterrent too.

Because package thieves will be charged with theft, property crime or other offenses once caught, for example, If a porch poacher steals USPS package, he or she is subject to serious criminal consequences including federal prison time and fines.

3. Have Packages Delivered to Your Workplace/Office

We have heard many people complaining about package thieves or bad neighbors sneaking around the street and looting drop-off deliveries, irresponsible mailman or carriers leaving packages on the front door without even knocking or ringing the door, pre-signing your delivery without your consent, or delaying home delivery by sending notifications too early.

It's so frustrating.

One of the best ways to stop package theft in the first place, is to have your package delivered to your office or friends’ houses that you trust, leaving no opportunities for the porch pirates.

4. Get Amazon Key for Your Package Delivery

To secure package delivery, you could try Amazon Key which combines a smart lock and security camera that will allow delivery services to place packages just inside your front door.

Of course, if you are okay with letting strangers into your house.

Or you could also have the package delivered into your cars called in-car delivery by using Amazon Key to prevent package theft.

5. Require Signature on Delivery to Stop Package Theft

Many customers grumble about delivery man signing the unauthorized packages and leaving them wide open on the porch or doorstep, making them desirable for package snatcher.

To prevent your package being stolen off the front porch, side door, back porch, or garage area, ask for signature delivery.

If your package is delivered by UPS/DHL/FedEx, consult your sender and require delivery confirmation signature.

Signature-required delivery should be strictly followed by couriers.

Did you know? If your package that demands delivery by YOUR signature was left unattended, or even worse, lost, because they didn’t follow the protocol, delivery companies are liable to legal actions and you are entitled to a full refund or replacement.

6. Reroute or Reschedule Delivery to Prevent Package Theft

If you are not sure whether or not you are home from holiday to receive your package when the delivery truck pulls up to your front door, you can track shipment information either on package tracking app or order information in advance.

To prevent the packages from being stolen, make a phone call to the delivery man or call your neighbors or friends to help receive the package.

Both UPS and FedEx offer web apps to help reroute parcel to another address and reschedule your package delivery at your convenience for a fee, for example, FedEx’s Delivery Manager, and UPS My Choice premium membership for $40 a year.

If you are using other delivery services, online shipment tracking information will be available. Notifying the driver in advance online when your package is due is reassuring.

7. Require Vacation Package Hold to Secure Package Delivery

Finally going away for holiday, you can place a hold on your package to prevent package theft.

Many delivery companies such as USPS and FedEx offer a free service to uphold your package at their terminals or delivery centers for a period of time.

To check FedEx delivery options for free online and free USPS mail holding service here to apply for a package holiday hold online without worrying about lost package or package being stolen off the doorstep.

While UPS will charge $5 for every package rescheduled or delivered to a UPS retail location on UPS My Choice.

8. Insure Your Upcoming Packages

I bet you don’t want to go through all the troubles to get your missing package back after an amazing holiday.

So insuring your precious holiday parcel, for example, Halloween costume, Thanksgiving gifts or Christmas packages in the first place will guarantee you reimbursement if unfortunately your delivery was stolen or lost before you lay your hand on it.

And you can also find out more about what to do if your package was stolen.

Your Ideas Are Wanted

Do you ever fall victim to Amazon package theft? What are the good ways you use to prevent package theft? Share your thoughts and ideas down below and we’d love to hear from you.