Avast! Beware of porch pirates this season

Hand-in-hand with the holiday season, especially in the internet era when more and more gifts are purchased online and shipped to households, comes the phenomenon of porch piracy. Nationwide, billions of dollars’ worth of merchandise was snatched from doorsteps last year. Law enforcement agencies report increases in reports of packages stolen near the entrances of homes during the winter holidays.

The Las Cruces Police Department urged vigilance in a news release, warning that increased deliveries, often after sunset, attracts thieves. The LCPD provided tips to help prevent porch piracy as follows:

• Track packages online and try to be home for scheduled deliveries.
• Require a signature for packages sent to residences.
• Leave instructions where packages may be left when scheduling a delivery.
• Request electronic notification of a completed delivery.
• Ask a friend or neighbor to receive packages.
• Create a concealed dropoff zone where packages may be left, unseen from passers-by.
• Have packages shipped to your place of employment or a secure location.
• Arrange for in-store pickup of packages from big box retailers such as Target, Walmart, etc.
• Have packages delivered to a FedEx or UPS store for pickup.
• Install motion-activated porch lights to discourage pirates.
• Further, consider installing a motion-activated security system, such as a doorbell camera that notifies your mobile phone and records video of visitors.
• Watch your neighborhood and report suspicious activity to the police.
• Consider purchasing insurance for packages at the time of purchase, to recover some funds in the event a package is stolen.