It’s undeniable – online shopping has irreversibly changed the way that we live. Over 80% of Americans buy off the internet at least once a year, and both consumers and retailers are shifting from physical storefronts to virtual ones at a rapid rate. [1]

This large step forward in commercial convenience doesn’t come without its challenges, however. Reduced-contact delivery is a beacon for opportunistic criminals – placing both products bought online and other posted items under dire threat.

Package theft is currently one of the most prevalent crimes in the US – affecting countless households and racking up some shocking statistics. An estimated 1.7 million packages went missing every day in 2019, and the associated costs from those losses were estimated to number in the tens of millions. [2]

Even more daunting is the fact that only 10% of package theft cases end in arrest or recovery, and that criminals who steal deliveries once are highly likely to make a habit of it in the future. [3]

Interested in preventing package theft before disaster? Read on to learn about what actually helps when it comes to protecting deliveries, and how you can take simple, effective action today.

Home Video Surveillance – A Package Thief’s Worst Nightmare

One of the largest factors that makes package theft attractive to prospective thieves is that it’s a quick and anonymous crime – leaving no evidence, and incurring little risk of discovery. This may seem frightening at first, but the good news is that the power to make things much, much more difficult for criminals is right within your grasp.

We’re all used to home security measures such as proximity lights and alarms, but the statistics don’t lie, and they all point to Home Video Surveillance being the most effective instrument of all. Just having surveillance present is estimated to reduce package theft by 50%, and this ‘scare factor’ serves to protect your house from other kinds of prospective burglars as well. [4]

We mentioned earlier that only 10% of package theft cases lead to an arrest or recovery, but Home Video Surveillance increases that chance significantly – providing much needed evidence to the police and neighbors, giving an idea of the thief’s appearance, and enabling you to define the time that the theft took place. [2]

Even Home Video Surveillance by itself is extremely effective in preventing package theft, but this is especially true when it is combined with other security measures. These can be as developed as locked mailboxes and alarm systems, or as simple as giving explicit ‘drop-off location’ instructions to couriers and rescheduling deliveries to when you can be personally present.

Tackling Package Theft at Your Home or Business

The idea of installing a home surveillance system can seem daunting at first, but it doesn’t have to be thanks to trusted home security providers like Smith Security LLC. Working with experts to protect your home opens up a new world of efficiency and ease – providing you with a one-stop-shop for all your security needs, and taking the pressure of setup and maintenance off of both your mind and wallet.

Licensed in both Oregon and Washington, Smith Security LLC is one of the northwest’s most renowned security providers – backed up by countless decades of combined experience, and responsible for providing 24/7 security services to businesses and homes over a large interstate area.

Enough cutting your losses – it’s time to get serious about protecting yourself and your personal property. Call us on 541-276-4847 for a personal consultation or on 541-564-9398 to reach our office in Hermiston and jet into the future of home security today.

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[1] Topic: Online shopping behavior in the United States, Statista. Available at: https://www.statista.com/topics/2477/online-shopping-behavior/#topicOverview (Accessed: 07 December 2023).

[2] Making porch pirates walk the Plank (2023) City Journal. Available at: https://www.city-journal.org/article/making-porch-pirates-walk-the-plank (Accessed: 07 December 2023).

[3] Kim, W. (2023) The annoying – and hard to solve – problem of stolen packages, Vox. Available at: https://www.vox.com/money/23969761/stolen-package-theft-retail-shipping-black-friday-holiday-shopping#:~:text=A%20New%20York%20Times%20analysis,about%20%2425%20million%20a%20day. (Accessed: 06 December 2023).

[4] Jones, R.G. (2007) The Crime Rate Drops, and a city credits its embrace of Surveillance Technology, The New York Times. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/29/nyregion/29east.html (Accessed: 07 December 2023).