In our recent survey on package theft and porch pirates, CNET found that a lot of American adults know about package theft, and around 71% are planning on taking action to prevent it. That's great news; the problem is they don't know how.
This can be an expensive mistake; the estimated mean value of packages this holiday season is about $290 per US adult, but our study found they aren't preparing well for the possibility of package theft.
Read more: The 7 Best Ways to Keep Porch Pirate Hands Off Your Package
People are choosing poor methods to fight porch pirates
CNET's survey found the number of adults taking action or planning to take action on package theft has increased by 3% from last year, and only 17% of respondents weren't planning to do anything. The issue is that the majority were planning to use package tracking technology to stop package theft, while around 28% were focused on not leaving their home unattended.
Smartphone showing delivery person through Ring app.
That's a good start, but these popular methods won't do much to stop porch pirates and similar package theft. Package tracking can show you where a package is but can't keep thieves from grabbing it if you aren't at home or don't make it to the mailbox in time. And today's thieves are using hacked tracking data and mail connections to grab packages before you can do anything about it.
So tracking packages is fine, but it's not a good way to stop thieves. For that, you need something a little more advanced.
So, what really works against package theft?
Delivery boxes have some built-in tricks to defeat porch pirates.
I'm a big fan of using video doorbells to monitor package drop-offs, but while that can discourage theft, it's not a complete solution. If, like 1 in 6 Americans, you've had a package stolen within the past year then you should consider a video doorbell as well as a couple of other steps.
First, if you have a smart garage controller (Under $100 with a retrofit), then look into in-garage delivery options. They're usually free, completely safe and easy to set up on sites like Amazon. Your garage will automatically open and close for the delivery person only, ensuring your package stays safe.
Second, if garage deliveries aren't an option for you, consider installing a package delivery lockbox near your porch or front door. They're effective against theft and essentially last forever, nipping your package theft problem in the bud. They also come in lots of sizes and styles to match your needs.
Prevent package theft these holidays with the right tricks
Finally, remember that package theft is a crime of opportunity. The faster you react to package deliveries, the less you have to worry about. Methods that work right away, like in-garage delivery or boxes, are much more effective than asking a neighbor to watch your packages or trying to get packages delivered to a different address.
To learn more, check out our guide to the best cheap video doorbells, top Ring doorbells, how to deter burglars and the absolute worst spots to put a security camera.