Protecting Your Home Deliveries with Tech
By Distributel
Worried about porch pirates stealing your swag? Try these tips to minimize the potential damage done by said pirates and give yourself some peace of mind.
Construct a Sheltered Space
Lots of thefts are done by people watching from the sidewalk. If they can’t see your package from the sidewalk, they won’t know to steal your package. So construct a good spot for postal workers to leave your stuff. Even a planter or a more covered porch can make a big difference between being targeted and being avoided.
Get a Doorbell Camera
A doorbell camera, such as the SimpliSafe or Ring, is basically a camera and button that replaces your doorbell. This turns your doorbell into a 24/7 monitoring system. Your doorbell camera can be recording all the time and set up to send notification to your phone when someone approaches. Some even allow them to interact with you over an app on your phone in real time. This may discourage a porch pirate, or, at the very least, provide you with the evidence you need if your stuff gets taken.
Get a Smart Lock
Smart locks are door locks you can control from an app on your smartphone. That way, you can get a notification in the middle of the day when the delivery guy gets there, unlock the door for them via the app, and have them deposit your package right inside your house. When they shut the door, you can lock it again.
Get a Package-Size Mailbox/Door Attachment
Your package-size mailbox can be something you build yourself, if you want, and if you’re handy enough to build something that lets someone deposit a package but won’t let them open it back up. Or you can get one of the many package mailboxes on the market, such as the Danby Parcel Guard, which is a water-resistant, tape-resistant mailbox that comes with app access, two-way communication, a security camera, voice-activated assistance, and more. Other examples include the Yale Smart Delivery Box. Extreme? Not if you get a lot of packages.
A more economic cost option is a door attachment which is basically a bag or box you tether to your door. Your package carrier deposits the package in the receptacle, locks it, and you unlock it and liberate your package when you get home.
Go All-Out and Install a Second Camera
Okay, let’s say you have a doorbell camera. Which is obvious and potential thieves know to look for it. Well, you can get sneaky and install a second camera in a more hidden spot. That way, if your package does get taken, not only will you have more footage, but you’ll have a better chance of catching the porch pirate’s face.
Make Friends with a Neighbour
Of course, there’s always the old school way of handling this: make friends with one of your neighbours and ask them to secure your package. Nothing is quite as personal as the human touch, right?