Megan Wollerton has covered technology for CNET since 2013. Either way you do it, you should be able to track the delivery of small parcels -- and make sure you know when someone's opening the mailbox who shouldn't be. There may be a fee involved if you go this route, so you may want to call a local shop ahead of time. As deliveries begin to roll in ahead of the holiday season, it's prime time for porch pirates to swipe unprotected packages off of doorsteps. The other drawbacks of these boxes are prices, which start around $150. The App is available in both Android and iOS. These package thieves have become quite skilled at swiping your goods while going unnoticed. It will detect changes in movement in any package between this range and it will alert you in case it is moved by an unauthorized person. This allows you to skip that monthly cloud storage fee and you can see the images on your smartphone. Amazon sells plenty of popular systems, like this one by Baxia Technology that has more than 800 five-star reviews. The Package Guard is designed to set off a 100-decibel alarm that will alert your neighbors if an unauthorized person moves your package or the device. It's called the FRED delivery box. With these tips, you can at least make life as difficult as possible for your local porch pirates. Alternatively, if you have a free account with UPS or FedEx, you can specify a day and window of time youd like your package delivered so that you can plan to be home when it arrives. Another approach: an electronic padlock with bar code scanner. We have our customers best interest in mind when developing products. As online shopping continues to become the norm for people, Smart Delivery Boxes are emerging as an innovative new delivery method. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. While you can mix and match camera brands to fit your needs and budget, those looking for convenience will probably want to stick with one brand to avoid having to use multiple apps and pay for multiple cloud services. With a subscription, you can look back at recorded events, get alerts and use two-way talk to scare off would-be porch pirates. The device will withstand rainy or snowy conditions. Its a great option if you can get delivery people to use it, but that can vary. Megan has a master's degree from the University of Louisville and a bachelor's degree from Connecticut College, both in international relations. Many retailers will give you the option of shipping to one of their stores thats closest to you or to another business theyre partnered with, letting you pick up the package at your convenience. Facebooks New NightmareIs It Time To Delete Your Account? The Ring Spotlight Cam (pictured), the Netatmo Outdoor Security Camera and the Ring Floodlight Cam all combine smart lighting with smart video monitoring.
The Arlo Pro 4 is smart and feature-rich, with 2K video resolution, a built-in spotlight for night-time deterrence, a surprisingly loud siren and all the smarts of the company's video doorbell. When Megan isn't writing, she's planning far-flung adventures. If a would-be porch pirate attempts to steal the package or the Package Guard device itself, a loud internal siren will be activated. Our partners at Consumer Reports recommend several ways to keep your packages and home more secure. What is TheBlankBox? They are really just floodlights that double as security cameras. However, a $3 monthly subscription to a Ring Protect plan is required for package alerts.
Read on to find out what products and services will help you keep a virtual "eye" on your holiday packages, no matter where you are.. I don't know that there's going to be one right solution, so maybe having an array of solutions is really the answer here, said Akaka. Its free to useand if youre a Prime member, youre entitled to free two-day shipping. Postal carriers see these 12 unusual things every day. A new, cheaper alternative: a floodlight security camera. The device will sound an alarm and send you a notification if any unauthorized person moves your package. The Arlo Video Doorbell is our current top pick in the category. Watch the video that shows four different methods of attack; all simply, quickly, and easily executed without damage or evidence of entry. After our experience with CleverMade, we decided to look at a different technical approach to the problem: an electronic padlock that is attached to a secure lock box that is provided by the customer. Package Guard Package Sensor Protection is a disc-shaped pressure sensitive smart device that is meant to ensure the safety of your delivered packages. Valdez says the goal of the police report requirement is to help law enforcement agencies collect more data on the frequency of these thefts. This video demonstrates the ease with which to release the shackle. Consumer Reports recommends the $100 Ring Video Doorbell home security camera. While most of these cameras offer some sort of night vision functionality, you might still feel uncomfortable with a package sitting on your stoop in the time between sundown and you getting home from work. There are many such products on the market. These steel containers weigh about thirty-five pounds and can be accessed with an electronic keypad (with a four-digit code), or as an alternative, a bypass key. All rights reserved. Keep an eye on your holiday purchases, even if you're away from home. David Priest is an award-winning writer and editor who covers home security for CNET. Subscribe to the Arlo Smart cloud service for access to advanced motion alerts that differentiate between people, animals, cars and packages. The actual price starts at $2,000, in addition to options like a solar panel, the camera delivery, and installation. Some startups are attempting to capitalize on the increasingly costly problem for vendors, carriers and consumers by dreaming up solutions that can cost hundreds of dollars and as we demonstrate in the videos, provide only seconds of deterrence. The idea is that the consumer provides the code (once the box is initially programmed) to the different delivery entities for their easy and secure access. These common home security mistakes can put you at risk. Package Guard is designed to handle packages as light as 16 ounces and as heavy as 100 pounds.
The camera keeps an eye on Ryders porch and is connected wirelessly to a Raspberry Pi 4, which works with a custom TensorFlow machine learning model trained to recognise when a package is or isnt present.
If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Are you desperately looking to protect your next valuable package from the porch pirates? It might also scare off the potential package thief that wants to steal your package. Just as the name sounds, its a big box that you put on your porch. If none of the above tech options appeal to you, don't fret. Outsmart package thieves with this 30-inch x 40-inch PVC reinforced nylon bag that locks to your front door or gate. Amazon Prime members have another option to keep an eye on their packages. These devices come in many shapes and sizes, and vary in terms of features, but the core functionality is the same: When somebody comes to your door and triggers the motion sensor, the doorbell cam begins recording and sends you a notification that there was activity at your door. FRED stands for Frozen, Refrigerated, Electronic and Dry, Donna explained. "Customers are expecting companies to do something about it, and customers can only generally take so much responsibility for packages getting into their homes.".
He issued the following statement: "We take the security of our products seriously and have a strong, timely and consistent track record working publicly and privately with seasoned security professionals. But there are great options from the other companies previously mentioned, including Eufy, Arlo and Ring which come in a range of options from 1080p to 4K.
And finally, many independent mail and shipping stores will let you have your package shipped to them as long as it meets their size and weight requirements. C+R Research reports significant increases in losses in 2019. The upcoming holiday shopping season is also sure to bring a surge of at-home deliveries, hopefully in spite of the current supply chain delays. You can also look back at your video footage with Arlo Smart to help neighbors and law enforcement (if necessary) identify who snagged your holiday deliveries.
TheAmazon Key In-Home Kitis required to enable the Key service. That said, they are the only company that makes a peephole camera, which is a great option for those living in apartments. Watch our videos on specific simple attacks against the internal motor and shackle release. House Bill 22-1030 does have one caveat, though. Unfortunately, its also prime time for porch pirates those burglars who steal packages left on porches or at front doors. I am an investigative attorney and physical security specialist. Low storm chance today; better rain & storm chance Sunday. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. This legislative session, Rep. Alex Valdez has a different idea. Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps"). The Ring Doorbell Video Cams from Amazon are also popular options, but its worth noting that the company has had issues with privacy and security in the past when it comes to storing and sharing users footage. There are real solutions, but consumers should be knowledgeable about those that properly address the problem. In that case, they were tested by their design engineers. Do you need a guaranteed solution that will work against the package thieves at all scenarios? When choosing your shipping options during the checkout process, Amazon will tell you if your package can be delivered to a locker, and provide a list of locations for you to choose from. The following day, the product was removed from the shelves and not available for sale at this store. The important question is whether a lock box sitting on a porch is a real deterrent? The boxes also take up space. It allows you to set the limited number and identity of people that can access the package without sounding the alarm. Before that, she wrote for NBC's Dvice.com (now SyFy). They found that at least one-third of customers were victims of one or more stolen packages in the past year, which translates into serious costs and revenue losses. But if you have a home security system at home, another easy way of monitoring your mailbox is using a door/window sensor -- one of those magnetic gadgets that pings the system when an entryway is opened -- inside the door of your box. The only downside, as you may have seen by news videos, is that many thieves now wear a hoodie and hide their face from the doorbell. If you do fall victim to a porch pirate, this footage can be used to help track down the culprit, but merely having one of these at your door can deter someone from even attempting to steal your package in the first place. While most of the solutions appear to make sense, our testing revealed what we perceive as serious security engineering issues in at least two different approaches in products that we analyzed. Package theft is at an all-time high this year. 2022 Forbes Media LLC. One of the most crucial tools you can buy to fight porch pirates is a doorbell cam. Returning a package to Amazon? He has introduced a bill to offer a $75 tax credit to porch pirate victims who put in an anti-theft device. Heres how to choose and install motion-sensor lighting. The growing popularity and reliance upon online orders and home delivery has spawned an entire new industry for criminals and opportunists-turned-thieves: stealing goods by so-called porch pirates. The problem stems from items being left on doorsteps, porches, or entry ways to apartments, private residences, or buildings by delivery carriers. If you live in a large city, you may have seen smart drop off lockers at local retailers, and companies like Amazon and UPS are testing these machines. The bill was laid over for lawmakers to discuss possible amendments and then take action another day. I never thought it would happen to me, but it certainly did, says Donna Clark the inventor. If the system detects a package, it gets ready to deploy the anti-thief traps. What else do you need when you get an assured Real-time alert when packages arrive at your doorstep? If we stay in this business this will hold true for our new products and models. Unfortunately, the rise of online shopping and package deliveries also means that your doorstep is ripe for plundering by porch pirates. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. The battery-powered Ring Video Doorbell with night vision is a great choice. It also has Wi-Fi connectivity, 4 Batteries and an Anti-Theft cable. In terms of porch piracy, losers for the companies and losers for the customer," said Melissa Akaka, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business. PwC Cloud and Digital Transformation BrandVoice, How To Earn Cash Rewards For Everyday Spending. When internet shopper and AI project maker Ryder had a package stolen from his porch, he wanted to make sure that didnt happen again. Were in the process of assessing your findings and making design adjustments. Its priceless to have that peace of mind.. He says hes had numerous packages stolen from his own front porch and knows many others have been through similar experiences. The bill faced its first committee test on Thursday. She said, You can be at work. TheBlankBoxoriginated from watching people run away with our packages while we were at work and we wanted a way to prank a porch pirate! The Package Guard app allows you to receive alerts and to control the device from your phone. The Best Video Doorbells You Can Buy in 2020, Spy is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Of course, you can always rent a USPS post office box, too. That said, were constantly striving to make our products more secure and your input here is valuable. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Without that, features like object detection might not be available and you wont be able to review footage after it happens. smartdrop eufy stolen A steel lock box to protect deliveries for a few seconds. Is It Better To Lease Or Buy A Car In Summer 2022? These are your options when it comes to buying and installing home security systems.
For Donna, though, her porch pirate problems are a thing of the past. Of course, you have to travel to an Amazon Locker location, but these kiosks let you pick up Amazon packages on your own schedule with a six-digit code (rather than worrying about something sitting on your front porch). Most of the time when somebody is the victim of piracy, they just call Amazon or whoever and get another package sent their way. If you want to stop package theft, its a powerful combination. Nobody likes having to rush to the post office or the FedEx/UPS shipping centers before they close and have to wait in line, but if you absolutely need to guarantee that your new computer or TV wont get swiped, electing to hold your package for delivery is the best and only way to guarantee a safe delivery. My colleagues and I purchased a total of six CleverMade boxes to analyze their security against covert entry: three from Costco, and three from Amazon. Now many homes are empty again during the day and thieves are more brazen than ever. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Porch pirates dont take well to the spotlight, so deter them with motion-sensor lights.
A few that stand out include the Nest Hello Video Doorbell, which can detect familiar faces; the Eufy Pro Cam 2K, which stores your footage on a local hard drive so you dont have to pay for a cloud subscription, and the Arlo Video Doorbell, which has a number of smart AI-powered features to make sure nothing goes unnoticed. This legislative session, Rep. Alex Valdez has a different idea. These DIY mudroom lockers keep you entryway tidy. Copyright Block Porch Pirates 2018. In addition to outdoor cameras and in-home delivery services, select companies offer smart locks and storage options for your packages. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SPY.com may receive an affiliate commission. Connected buzzers work in much the same way as traditional security cameras. Consumer Reports shows some of its top rated devices for stopping porch package thieves. We handpick the products and services we write about. The 22 Best Backpacks for College Students in 2022, Stop Package Thieves Once and for All With One of These Doorbell Video Cameras. But that's not going to stop a thief, said Jennifer Seimi, a product manager with BenchSentry. This device includes an anti-theft Cable to secure your Porch and sounds a loud 100 dB Alarm notifying you when the package or the device have been moved. Even though the Porch Pirate bag could conceivably be cut open by a determined thief, it more than likely would be an effective deterrentand at $35, its a relatively affordable experiment. You buy a product and ship it to your home only to have a porch pirate beat you to the punch.
A doorbell camera is a very effective tool in the fight against porch pirates, but if your packages are dropped off somewhere other than your front porch, or the view from your door is heavily obscured, you may want to consider some outdoor security cameras. Those who are more budget-minded should also take a look at the Wyze cameras, which cost a fraction of what their competing cameras sell for and still offer most of the core features. Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney, For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com. He told me they attempted to open a dozen of their boxes and could not replicate what we demonstrated. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email us and wewill get back to you as soon as wecan. One box thats insulated that would hold everything.. Many thieves are looking for a low-risk opportunity, and the mere sight of a camera may be enough to ward off intruders. Learn how to install surveillance cameras. Chances are, youve experienced a dramatic upswing in the number of packages youve had delivered over the past few years thanks to the pandemic, and the closing of many retail stores. . Have a problem?Send me an email, at jmatarese@wcpo.com or message me on Facebook. These tend to start around $250 for DIY systems like Swann, or a pro can install a system for around $1,000. If shopping through Amazon, you can provide these instructions when youre filling out the shipping info during checkout. During multiple packages, you are sent instant notification for each package delivery. Every product is independently selected by our editors. If youre an Amazon Prime member in an eligible location, you can sign up for Amazon Key and have your packages delivered inside your home or vehicleand despite the name, no key is required. Security cameras are nothing new, but like doorbell cams, modern versions are connected to the internet and come with detection features that can alert you in the event that theres unusual activity around your house. Ring has a device specifically for tracking when people are opening your mailbox, which makes tracking deliveries a lot easier. The survey ranked Denver as number one for the most porch pirate thefts in 2021, knocking San Francisco out of the top position after a three-year streak. Some package thieves work at night, scooping up packages from mailrooms, lobbies and porches, but many operate in broad daylight, brazenly stealing any package they can find. The Spotlight Cam even has a 110-decibel siren, so you can scare someone away when needed. So, we don't even have really good data on how prevalent this problem is, Valdez said. Amazon offers a second option for thwarting porch pirates: an authorized Amazon Locker. The Raspberry Pi sets everything off if it detects that someone other than Ryder has removed the package from the cameras view. I was contacted by a colleague, the CEO of a U.S. lock manufacturer, who was shopping at a Costco store in Oregon and found a steel lock box specifically designed to allow package delivery personnel to securely drop off their goods in order to protect them from theft. Delivery people can drop packages into it, but only you can open it with a key. Gmail Hackers Target Google AccountsHeres How To Stop Them, Cops Turn To Google Location Data To Pursue A Death Penalty For 2015 Murder, Facebook, Google And Trustpilot Failing To Deal With Fake Reviews, Microsoft Windows Security Warning As Multiple 0Days Used In Attacks On Business Users, UK Spy Agency MI5 'Breached Surveillance Laws For More Than A Decade', Google Chrome: 0Day Targets Journalists, 11 New Security Holes Plugged In Latest Update, iOS 15.6Update Now Warning Issued To All iPhone Users. If you have theft problems or you want to prank someone, TheBlankBox or TheBlankTrigger will solve your problems and give you a good laugh. Unless youre ordering something oversized or irregularly shaped (such as a TV), and dont live in a super remote part of the country, Amazon has an entire network of these lockers in stores and other publicly-accessible spaces which are a reasonable distance from where you live. So some machine learning and a Python script needed to be employed. We found them at Costco. CleverMade produces a steel lock box to deter package theft. If youre in a bind and wont be home to sign for your package, see if your delivery service will let you redirect the package to a trusted neighbors addressUPS MyChoice does this, for instance. Consumer Reports recommends the the $180 Eufy light, which stores recordings locally on the camera itself. The delivery driver types the code into the lock to open the box, and an optional camera upgrade can send you a real-time feed.
All you have to do is set it up and leave it on your porch. Wi-Fi connectivity ensures that you promptly receive notifications from the device. You may opt-out by. First, you install the Amazon Key Home Kit, which includes a smart lock, security camera and the Amazon Key app. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Use the online zip code locator to find a locker near you, and use that as your delivery address. It may not be as convenient as having your package delivered to your home, but its pretty quick and easy to pop into a 7-11, enter a password at the locker terminal, and walk out with your undisturbed goods. 
So which video doorbell do we recommend? Keep reading for the scoop on how to keep your packages secure. Start with a package delivery box. To get the most out of these connected camera products, you will usually need to buy a monthly cloud subscription, too. In cases where somebody is caught stealing a package, there should be law enforcement activity, but at the same time we want to prevent that altogether, Valdez said. All Rights Reserved. Major delivery services like FedEx and UPS offer locker services internationally, but you probably have a local package receiving center if you live in a big city like New York (see Go Locker and City CoPilot). The boxes were designed, developed and are being sold by CleverMade at Costco, Walmart, Home Depot, Amazon, and others. (Amazon has said it plans to educate its couriers on using the Yale Smart Delivery Box). I had several discussions with the CEO of BoxLock, Brad Ruffkess about our findings. And Ryder had an interesting technique to train the machine learning model to recognise him: If you want to make your own anti-porch pirate device, Ryder has shared everything you need on GitHub. BenchSentry recently started offering a new feature for bigger packages.
We also blogged about this project when we needed a good dopamine boost during lockdown. Here are DIY home security systems you can install in a day. We found that there's not a lot of data. Last year, porch thefts decreased, because many people were working from home during the pandemic. How to go about this differs depending on where youre shopping and what company is handling the shipping, but there are a couple of typical ways this plays out. Here are our tips for theft-proofing your entire house this winter.
The lock is also associated with an App that allows an unlock code to be sent directly by the customer to the padlock. There are a number of anti-theft options for consumers, like BenchSentry by Genie, a company that started with three employees in Lakewood but has expanded significantly since getting started. Here are 10 ways to refresh a tired porch. The selling point of this device is the 100-decibel alarm that goes off once your device is moved. Plus you can put as many cameras as you want (within reason), anywhere you want, offering a lot of versatility in how you use these. Did you know that if you buy something on Amazon, you can have it shipped to a secured locker that unlocks with a password supplied to you by Amazon? I contacted the CEO of the company, Tom Quinn, and his product manager to ask some basic questions about their design and intended application. This includes connected home security products, such as video doorbells and home security cameras, which can deter porch pirates from the act altogether, or give you a good look at them if theyre still bold enough to attempt a heist.