It’s no secret that online shopping has grown over the past few years. With the rise of e-commerce and the convenience of home delivery, more and more consumers are shopping online for everything—from groceries, to holiday presents and more.
But as the number of online shoppers rise, so does the risk of losing deliveries to package theft; in fact, there’s even a national holiday called Package Protection Day, which encourages homeowners to protect their homes against package theft during the holidays.
So before you shop online, here are some tips to protect your deliveries from package thieves.
Package Theft Stats at a Glance*
23,000,000
23 million Americans had a package stolen from their home in 2015.
23 M
23 million Americans had a package stolen from their home in 2015.
91%
91% of homeowners have a package delivered at least once a month.
850,000,000
850 million packages will be delivered during this year’s holidays.
850 M
850 million packages will be delivered during this year’s holidays.
7 Steps to Prevent Package Theft
Here are seven simple tips to fight back against package theft.
1. Ship to Another Location
If possible, have your packages shipped to another location instead of your home. If it’s allowed, ship packages to your office, or have them shipped to a retired neighbor who’s home during the day.
Many delivery companies also offer to hold your packages at their respective stores, such as FedEx Office or The UPS Store, and Amazon has a similar feature called Amazon Locker, which will store all your Amazon shipments.
2. Require a Signature
Sure, this may be a hassle, but it’s also a great way to deter package theft. While most signature requirements are designated by the sender, many delivery companies will allow you to require signatures for all your deliveries.
For example, UPS has a service called My Choice, which lets you customize your preferences for each delivery you receive. FedEx and DHL have similar services as well.
3. Consider a Lockbox
While it might be more expensive and imposing than your other options, a lockbox can keep your packages secure while you’re away.
Home lockboxes are similar to apartment mailboxes and Post Office drop boxes. Some companies also sell smart lockboxes, which will send you alerts every time you have a delivery.
4. Join the Digital Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood watches are a great way to connect with your neighbors and take a stand against crime as a community. Ring recently released Ring Neighborhoods, which lets you receive real-time crime and safety alerts from your neighbors, discuss neighborhood security and stay on top of local news.
Download the free Ring App, and see crime that’s happening in your community right now!
5. Answer the Door From Anywhere
New technology is making it easier to monitor your home and protect your packages.
For example, Ring Video Doorbells send you instant alerts when anyone presses your Doorbell or triggers its built-in motion sensors, so you’ll always know when packages are delivered or if thieves are lurking. And with Ring’s two-way talk, you can tell your courier where to hide your packages and warn strangers that they’re on camera.
6. Watch Over Your Home With Security Cams
With smart security cameras around your home, you can watch over your entire property from anywhere.
If you ask your courier to hide your package in a secret spot on your property, make sure the area is monitored by security cameras. With Ring Floodlight Cams and Spotlight Cams, you can watch over your entire property from your phone, tablet and PC, and stop crime in its tracks.
7. Post a Security Sign
Security signs are the simplest and least expensive way to protect your home and your packages. Putting up a sign will warn criminals that your home is protected by a security system, which may stop them from stealing your goods.
Ring has a Solar Security Sign that charges itself during the day and lights up at night, so your home will be protected around the clock. Click here to learn more.
Peace of Mind While You’re Away
Many of us prefer to shop online because of the savings and convenience it provides. The last thing we need is to waste time tracking down packages and dealing with stolen deliveries. So be sure to implement these simple security tips to avoid package theft at your home.
Have you recently had a package stolen from your home? Don’t worry! See our article on dealing with stolen packages here.
*References: 1. “Worst Holiday Hazards,” InsuranceQuotes.com 2. “Smart Technology Protecting Consumers’ Homes,” Ring.com 3. “USPS to Deliver More Than 15 Billion Pieces of Holiday Mail,” USPS.com