With the holidays fast approaching, we’re all gearing up for the season of giving. For many San Francisco residents that means sending and receiving packages to and from friends and family around the country. It also means a lot of online shopping to take advantage of Cyber Monday deals and find the perfect small business to get that special item the recipient will love. Unfortunately, not everyone shares in the spirit of giving, but instead uses the holidays as an opportunity to steal even from your own porch. People stealing packages are called Porch Pirates and they are on the rise.

What Are Porch Pirates?

Porch pirates are criminals who drive around San Francisco neighborhoods looking for unguarded packages. These packages are usually sitting on the front porch, thus why they are called “Porch Pirates.” Once they see a package, they will, in broad daylight, steal the package. This is a huge problem for homeowners. Oftentimes these packages contain high value items like electronics or jewelry. However, sometimes packages vital things like pharmaceuticals or medical devices. So it is imperative that homeowners put together a strategy to prevent porch pirates.

Three Tips To Keep Your Packages Safe

There are several things you can do to reduce your chance of being targeted by porch pirates including:

1. Install a doorbell camera so you can monitor when packages arrive. That way you can retrieve your packages before they can be targeted by thieves.
2. Have your packages delivered to your workplace that way you don’t have to worry about being home for deliveries. You can also have packages delivered to the delivery carrier’s office and pick it up there.
3. You can purchase a package safe and instruct delivery drivers to deposit your packages into the safe.

These strategies will all help reduce your chance of having your packages stolen by porch pirates.

Why A Doorbell Camera Is Your Best Option

Of the three options, installing a doorbell camera is the best way to protect your home from porch pirates. A doorbell camera uses a combination of sensors, remote monitoring, and a surveillance camera to monitor your porch. Whenever there is activity on your porch, you will get a notification on your phone. Then you can log into the app and watch a live stream. This will let you know when packages arrive, so you can get them to safety. Also, if a porch pirate beats you to your package, you will have captured their identity on camera and can provide footage to San Francisco law enforcement so they can be caught.

A doorbell camera can make sure that your holidays aren’t stolen by porch pirates. To get started, talk to a security professional about your options. They’ll go over the features, installation, and how to operate the system. They’ll also answer any questions you have about the doorbell camera. Working with a professional will ensure that you get the best system for your needs to stop porch pirates for good.