(Credit: Getty Images/The Good Brigade)
Online shopping is so convenient that many of us place orders and forget about them until the boxes show up at our doorstep.
As satisfying as it is to get school supplies or groceries delivered directly in a matter of hours or days, you can't always ensure you'll be home, waiting. And a package sitting on a front porch or in an apartment lobby is an easy target for theft.
According to a December survey from Safewise, approximately 260 million boxes disappeared from US home in 2022—50 million more than were swiped the year before. Most were snatched from homes in San Francisco; Seattle; Austin; Hartford, Conn.; and Sacramento.
If you've ever had to rush home to collect a package, ask the neighbors to keep an eye on the door, or been a victim of porch pirates, consider these tips to help secure deliveries. Peace of mind can often be worth the price.
Set Up Amazon Delivery Days
The simplest way to prevent package theft is to make sure it arrives when you're actually home. Amazon Prime members can select the free "Amazon Day Delivery" option at checkout, which is also intended to cut down on the number of trips that Amazon delivery people make to your home in a given week. Amazon will suggest a delivery day, but you can click "change delivery day" to select another one, if needed.
Send to Remote Pick-Up Locations
Most delivery services offer access to a remote pick-up location like a secure locker, post office, or retail counter. Amazon boasts hundreds of Hub Lockers across the country—free to access for Prime members,. At checkout, click Change next to your shipping address and scroll down to see your nearby pickup location options. You'll get a notification or email when it's been delivered; enter the code at the locker to retrieve your package. Certain items may also be returned at participating pickup points.
Schedule Garage Deliveries
This one takes an added layer of trust. But if you're comfortable with a delivery person entering your garage when you're not home, try Amazon Key. You'll need a Prime account and the myQ Smart Garage Hub or Aladdin Connect Wi-Fi RetroFit Kit to take advantage of Key Delivery for Amazon, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market orders.
Garage deliveries are available in select areas and for select garage door brands; check your eligibility on Amazon's website. Add a Ring Indoor Cam or Ring Stick Up Cam to watch deliveries in real time for a sense of added security.
Note: As of Oct. 4, 2023, Amazon is adding a $1.99 fee if you opt for In-Garage Delivery on a non-Amazon Day delivery slot.
Provide a Smart Delivery Box
Several companies offer physical boxes into which delivery personnel can drop boxes. Of course, that means you'll need to communicate to delivery people that they need to use the box (and how to operate it). They're also pretty pricey; the Danby Parcel Guard is current just under $400 at Home Depot. The $280 Yale Smart Delivery Box is another option, but the reviews aren't great, and Amazon notes that it's a frequently returned product.
Set Up Outdoor Security
Lastly, and perhaps the most obvious in this connected day and age, is the humble security system. Your best bet is to install an outdoor camera, set up near where packages are typically delivered—the front stoop, the side door, the back garden. Our top picks include the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera, Wyze Cam OG, and Ring Stick Up Cam Battery, among other top-rated options. For tips on setting up your camera, check out our guide.
If a security camera isn't your style, consider a video doorbell, which often allows the owner to talk to (or, in this case, berate) whoever is trying to swipe packages.
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