Authorities warn internet consumers that when products are delivered, thieves may steal them on Black Friday.
According to experts, there are strategies to prevent being a victim of porch pirates as the holiday shopping season begins.
Doorbell cameras have the potential to capture porch pirates stealing deliveries from front porches.
When placing an internet order, Scott Ellner, of East Brunswick, New Jersey, says he exercises caution.
“We check with UPS when we’re expecting something and we stick around and try to get it before the porch pirates, and we’ve been lucky,” he stated.
Hackers in Long Island escalated the offense. Police said that they obtained a homeowner’s credit card and ordered several things using it. According to the authorities, the robbers went to the house to take the gifts after they were delivered.
In that instance, the defrauded family made an effort to find the suspected criminals.
“When [the porch pirate] was running, I saw the car there. He had the door open, it was on, there was no one else in there, and he jumped in and sped off,” Erica Bernhard, a victim of porch piracy stated.
Authorities claim that millions of Americans become victims each year, regardless of how thieves obtain someone else’s packages.
How to prevent porch pirate attacks?
Summit, New Jersey police advise citizens to subscribe to alerts, use tracking numbers to keep an eye on their deliveries, and, if at all possible, use the option to require a signature for delivery.
Other options include installing security cameras, leaving a note instructing delivery personnel where to leave your packages, or setting up a parcel drop box or lockbox at your house.
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Police said that coordinating with your neighbors to watch for one other’s deliveries and report suspicious activity is another smart option.
