The rise of online shopping has made life convenient since you no longer have to visit a physical store to buy a product. Thus, with a few clicks on a computer or a phone, your package will be on its way to your doorstep. Unfortunately, the rise of online shopping has brought with it porch piracy or package theft. Notably, porch pirates often walk around neighbourhoods looking for packages to steal, frustrating and inconveniencing homeowners. Luckily, you can rely on specific security systems to keep your packages safe when you are not around.
Use Package Lockboxes
Packages delivered to your porch are visible from across the street for all to see, and a porch pirate does not hesitate when presented with such an opportunity. It might explain why porch piracy has been on the rise over the last couple of years. To prevent porch pirates from targeting your packages, you need a security system that conceals any items delivered to your front door.
For instance, installing a package lockbox on your porch allows delivery services to secure any items they deliver to your property, ensuring that parcels are safe from porch pirates. The best package lockboxes have a smart digital lock system that provides delivery staff with a one-time password (OTP). Once they have secured a package inside the lockbox, the OTP expires, and only you can access the lockbox to retrieve the package.
Install a Package Guard
Manufacturers of home security devices understand the frustrations caused by porch piracy. Consequently, some companies have developed devices that act like virtual security guards for packages delivered. The package guards are WiFi-enabled and positioned close to a front door. When a delivery staff places a package on the device, it automatically activates an alarm system. Therefore, lifting the package from the security device triggers an alarm system and sounds a siren loud enough to scare away a porch pirate. The best part is that you can integrate a package guard with a security camera for remote deactivation of the alarm.
Upgrade to a Voice-Activated Doorbell Camera
While you can install a security camera on a porch to deter package pirates, some might use long sticks to reposition or even damage the camera. As a result, it makes doorbell cameras one of the best security devices to keep porch thieves at bay. The reason is that a voice-activated doorbell camera is inconspicuous, and porch thieves cannot tell you are watching them. Thus, you can scare away any porch pirate once they get too close by talking through the intercom system. The surprise factor is often enough to deter them from making a similar attempt on another property in the same neighbourhood.