LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Its the season for thieves to prey on delivered packages, but there are new ways to stop and protect your goods.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rocks Executive Director of Professional Sales Program said its happening more and more.

Its growing because most of retail sales now, especially around Christmas time, are done online, Lenita Davis said.

The solution might not be as simple as you think.

Even though you may have Ring and video cameras, I mean, all you really record is people stealing packages off your porch, right? Davis said.

So, what do you do to stop thieves from swiping your packages?

She said there are several options.

I think this is why Amazon came up with the locker system where you can have your packages sent to the locker and pick em up at Whole Foods," Davis said. "People are also starting to send their packages to work. People are using the video cameras so when they see a package delivered, have a neighbor pick them up.

More options:

You can anticipate when its going to arrive, Davis said.

Discouraging thieves is important because a refund isnt always an option.

A lot of people you buy products from, once they send that tracking number and show that its been delivered to your door, thats it. If it got stolen, youre out of luck, Davis said.

If you have a video monitoring app, its always a good idea to monitor it, so you know whats going on in your neighborhood.

RELATED: Home security makes its way to holiday shopping lists

RELATED: Porch pirates back for the holidays; thief steals package from child in Hillcrest

Link:
Putting porch pirates to a stop before they get to your door - THV11.com KTHV

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio A delivery worker was intending to leave gifts for someone else, but ended up being treated to some himself.

Kathy Ouma, of Cleveland Heights, says she like to leave drinks and snacks out on her porch for drivers to enjoy on their routes after dropping off packages. This week, one worker from Amazon came to the porch to drop off the package, and was more than surprised to see a container of Coke, Oreos, crackers, and more.

Ouma's Ring.com porch camera captured the moment the driver arrived, and she posted the video on Facebook. The footage has now been seen more than four million times.

"That's so nice!..."Wow...This is sweet!" the driver can be heard saying as he takes some goodies. He even did a little dance as he walked back to his truck.

Ouma wrote the driver's reaction "made [her] day!"

RELATED: Merry & bright: The best holiday light displays in Northeast Ohio

RELATED: Cyber Monday sales on track to hit record

See the original post:
Watch: Amazon delivery worker surprised with free basket of treats on Cleveland Heights porch - WKYC.com

Millions of people are shopping online this holiday season, and local law enforcement is warning the public of potential scams and theft.

Before clicking to buy anything, the Fargo Police Department recommends web shoppers verify that the sites they are using are legitimate. That includes fundraiser pages like GoFundMe. In addition to verifying that a website is secure, police suggest using a credit card for better protection against fraud.

The Federal Trade Commission also has a list of tips on how to avoid phishing scams.

More than 2 billion packages will be shipped now through the end of the year.

Items often arrive on doorsteps just days after they are ordered, and that provides another opportunity for thieves to target web shoppers.

Fargo police Public Information Officer Jessica Schindeldecker has some tips on how to thwart these thieves, often known as porch pirates. One is to keep an eye on package tracking numbers. You can also have packages sent to the post office, to a friend's house or even the office where you work.

Packages can be tracked on these websites:

Follow this link:
How you can thwart scammers and 'porch pirates' - INFORUM

A surveillance video shows a crook stealing packages from a front porch.

Unfortunately it seems like we're seeing videos like this almost daily.

It's happening at homes around the desert.

"I definitely think about the safety of our communities in making sure people take precautions when they start having packages shipped for the holidays," said Palm Springs Police Sergeant Mike Casavan.

Casavan says his department does not specifically track cases of porch piracy.

When reported it's simply classified as "petty theft" or "grand theft" depending on the value of what is taken.

But, he says it is happening, especially this time of year at homes throughout the valley.

In fact, people who live in one Palm Desert neighborhood off Frank Sinatra tell us they've seen a lot of it.

"You know it doesn't feel safe, Maybe they break into the house and that is not good," said homeowner Mustafa Cider.

Cider says thankfully his home has not been hit by porch pirates but he is hearing about it happening at homes nearby.

While waiting for his own shipments he is considering steps recommended by security experts and law enforcement.

First is making sure the front door is well lit.

Also consider a security camera.

"Maybe just having surveillance equipment put up at your house so if your packages are stolen, at least we have a video to see who did it, and possibly identify them," said Casavan.

If your package is being shipped by Fed Express use the "hold for pickup" option where you can go to their location to get your package versus having it delivered to your house.

UPS also offers that option.

A workplace is another location where your packages can be delivered where they won't be spotted by a potential porch pirate.

"It's a problem I believe, UPS I think just leave the package, they don't ring or knock on the door," said Cider.

There are also several Amazon "hub lockers" where, if your package is coming from Amazon, you can have that shipment sent .. for pick up at your convenience.

If a porch pirate does take something from your front door, the consumer resource website "Value Penguin" provides a list of steps that you should take as part of an effort to get that shipment back or get the item replaced.

Link:

https://www.valuepenguin.com/home-insurance/6-steps-take-if-your-package-gets-stolen-your-door

Here is the original post:
Porch piracy skyrocketing in California; how to stop the thieves - KESQ

Amazon Prime driver thwarts porch pirate thieves caught on video

Driver waits around corner suspecting pair was targeting deliveries

Updated: 11:24 PM EST Dec 2, 2019

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

TERRI: THIS IS VIDEO TAKEN SATURDAY BY A RING DOORBELL CAMERA OF A GIRL GRABBING A PACKAGE THAT HAD JUST BEEN DELIVERED AND THEN TAKING OFF WITH IT. YOU CAN SEE HER COMPANION WAITING FOR HER ON A BIKE. SHE RUNS UP AND GETS ON HER OW BIKE TO MAKE HER GET-AWAY, BUT SHE DOESNT GET FAR. THIS AMAZON DRIVER IN THIS VAN WAS WAITING. >> IVE BEEN DELIVERING PACKAGES FOR AMAZON ALL DAY TODAY. IVE SEEN THEM ON SEACREST. IVE SEEN THEM ALL OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >> OK. TERRI: THATS THE 911 CALL FROM THE DRIVER. SHE TELLS POLICE THE KIDS ON BIKES HAD BEEN FOLLOWING HER AS SHE MADE HER DELIVERIES IN THIS BOYNTON BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD, AND SHE WAS HESITANT TO LEAVE ANY PACKAGES. THE KIDS FINALLY DISAPPEARED, THOUGH, AND SHE LEFT A PACKAGE ON THIS DOORSTEP, WHERE THE GIRL PROMPTLY SHOWED UP AND GRABBED IT. BUT, THE DRIVER HAD CIRCLED AROUND THE BLOCK TO DOUBLE CHECK. >> AS SOON AS THEY SAW ME COMING AROUND THE CORNER, AND I SAW THEM WITH THE BOX, THEY FLEW DOWN THE ROAD. TERRI: THE THIEVES DROPPED THE PACKAGE IN THE BUSHES, AND IT WAS RETURNED TO THE OWNER. BUT WITH THIEVES NOW ACTUALLY TAILING DELIVERY DRIVERS, POLICE MAKE THESE SUGGESTIONS -- CONSIDER HAVING IT DELIVERED TO YOUR COMMUNITYS MANAGEMENT OFFICE OR YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS, REQUIRE A SIGNATURE FOR DELIVERY OR SCHEDULE DELIVERY IF POSSIBLE FOR WHEN SOMEONES HOME, AND INVEST IN DOORBELL OR HOME VIDEO SURVEILLANCE S

Amazon Prime driver thwarts porch pirate thieves caught on video

Driver waits around corner suspecting pair was targeting deliveries

Updated: 11:24 PM EST Dec 2, 2019

An alert Amazon Prime delivery driver noticed a boy and girl on bikes tailing her truck Saturday afternoon in Boynton Beach so she stopped making deliveries until they rode off.But as soon as she left a package on a doorstep, she circled back around to make sure it stayed there, and saw the same girl running down the street carrying the box.The driver said when the girl saw her Amazon van, she dumped the package in the bushes and took off.The driver called police, who returned the package to the owner and are seeking the porch pirate.Ring doorbell video captured the theft and the Amazon truck driving back to the scene.

An alert Amazon Prime delivery driver noticed a boy and girl on bikes tailing her truck Saturday afternoon in Boynton Beach so she stopped making deliveries until they rode off.

But as soon as she left a package on a doorstep, she circled back around to make sure it stayed there, and saw the same girl running down the street carrying the box.

The driver said when the girl saw her Amazon van, she dumped the package in the bushes and took off.

The driver called police, who returned the package to the owner and are seeking the porch pirate.

Ring doorbell video captured the theft and the Amazon truck driving back to the scene.

Visit link:
Amazon Prime driver thwarts porch pirate thieves caught on video - WPBF West Palm Beach

HOBOKEN A utility truck pulled up to a busy Hoboken thoroughfare, turned on the hazards and, while the driver stayed put, another man began lobbing packages hed stolen from peoples porches into the back of the truck.

It was within 30 to 60 seconds, Hoboken Detective William Collins said at police headquarters last week. People look out their windows and think, Oh, its just someone working. Nothing wrong here. In that case, we were lucky enough to get the plate and find the driver who later confessed.

Collins said most package thefts ordinarily dont happen that way. The usual MO of package thieves, sometimes referred to as porch pirates, is on foot, which presents an added challenge to the authorities. Now that the holiday season is underway considered peak time for such thefts police departments throughout Hudson County are gearing up to deter people from swiping packages from porches and foyers, and catch the ones that do.

This year, Jersey City, Hoboken, and Kearny have partnered with Amazon as part of an initiative to catch would-be burglars. As part of the program, the city sets up fake Amazon boxes equipped with GPS units and surveillance cameras outside of houses and apartment buildings that have experienced multiple thefts.

Its a crime of opportunity. When someones walking down the street with a package under their arm, or riding a bike, neither police officers nor civilians know that what theyre holding are proceeds of a theft, Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante told The Jersey Journal. We have over 28,000 addresses in Hoboken alone, is a combination of residential and business. Thats 220 intersections. Even if we put a watch at all of the intersections, we would still have package thefts inside our multi-dwelling buildings. So, its very, very tough.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, retail e-commerce sales saw a 13.3 percent surge from the second quarter of 2018 to the second quarter of 2019. Per global data platform, Statista, as generations skew younger more and more shoppers prefer to stay at home and whittle away their shopping lists one click at a time.

Playing defense

This holiday season Kearny, Jersey City, and Hoboken are taking part in the Amazon initiative.

We were first on the East Coast to implement this type of package theft sting (in 2018), and were proud to serve as a model for other areas now implementing similar strategies to combat the issue, Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said. The goal of the program is not just to catch the thieves, but more to deter these crimes altogether.

The boxes are provided free of charge from Amazon.

Wallace-Scalcione estimated that between 400 and 500 package thefts took place in Jersey City in 2018, per information provided by Amazon.

Eight minutes after we dropped the first bait package (last year), it was picked up, she said.

In addition to decoys, officials in Hoboken and Kearny said they are providing Ring doorbells to homeowners that are likely to be targeted.

California-based company Ring connects its video doorbell to the residents home Wi-Fi network and sends real-time notifications to their mobile device when someone arrives at their door.

A 2018 pilot program which included the donation of over 500 Ring doorbells to two Newark neighborhoods saw burglaries reduced by more than 50 percent from April through July in comparison with the same span of time in 2017, according to a company announcement.

Wallace-Scalcione added that although some areas get hit more than others, no one is immune to these thefts. Even Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop fell victim to a package thief prior to his wifes baby shower in December 2018.

Hoboken had 192 package thefts reported in 2018 and 107 so far in 2019.

We have designated areas where we want to concentrate whether it be the steps of a home or inside of a building where well have surveillance set up, said Collins. The owners of the buildings are aware of it.

Kearny Sgt. Michael Gonzalez said when heard about Jersey Citys success with the anti-theft program, preparations began in his city as well.

We usually have a patrol monitoring these types of incidents, but were going to give this program a try, said Gonzalez. I wouldnt say its a huge issue here, but like any other town you see a spike during the holidays. I know its clich, but I think we should still adhere to the see something, say something rule. If you see someone lurking around, report it and well get a car to the area.

Officials in North Bergen and Union City said they are also providing residents with Ring doorbell systems.

"Since Jan. 1, we have only had 19 incidents of packages stolen, which is significantly low for an urban community, said North Bergen Police Chief Robert Dowd, who noted that 15 of those ended in arrests. However, we always want to improve these numbers.

North Bergen had a total of 45 package thefts in 2018.

In Union City, spokesperson Erin Knoedler noted that Mayor Brian Stack hosts over a hundred community meetings throughout the year wherein they advise residents to reports any suspicious activity.

We have a multi-pronged approach, said Knoedler. We believe the main thing is to educate the public.

What you can do

Bayonne police Lt. Eric Amato has some suggestions for residents as well.

People should try to schedule the delivery for when theyll be home, if possible, or indicate if there is someplace the delivery can be made where it is not easily visible, possibly in a shed or yard, said Amato, who noted that Bayonne had 94 package thefts in 2018 and slightly more than 50 this year. Amazon has pick-up locations and also offer a hub locker, where once the item is delivered an e-mail is sent with a code so the customer can retrieve it.

In West New York, which had 14 package thefts in December 2018 alone, Director Mark Flores agreed that arranging to have packages delivered where the customer knows a person will be can make a big difference.

Flores noted that residents could arrange to have the package left with a neighbor. Our patrol units and walking officers will [also] be extra vigilant in monitoring suspicious activity, he added.

Police departments also suggest that residents require a signature when they make an order online and additionally, consider having packages delivered to their workplace.

A non-violent crime

Considering package thefts fall under the non-violent crime category, Ferrante said porch pirates can strike with alarming frequency, even after they are caught.

We have law enforcement apprehending these individuals but then (because of the type of crime) theyre on the block the following day, Ferrante said, who noted that when an address is victimized that location is 50 percent more likely to be re-burglarized the following day. Victims dont always have the patience we do."

Ferrante pointed to an arrest his department made in January of 33-year-old David Diaz.

Diaz, a serial package thief, was charged in January with stealing packages from residential buildings on four occasions in one month, according to court records. Two of the thefts were three days apart.

One last big thing we try to educate people on has to do with condo buildings, said Collins. When residents pull out of garages, especially in the morning when theyre leaving for work, theyre a block or two away before the door starts coming back down.

"It doesnt come down for at least a minute or two, which can then present an opportunity.

Screen grab from Ring doorbell v

A man is seen in a screen grab from a Ring doorbell video stealing a package from outside a home on Mallory Avenue in Jersey City.

View post:
'Tis the porch pirate season, but Hudson County communities are fighting back - NJ.com

WOOSTER, Ohio Some of the packages you see on porches this holiday season may be bugged.

GPS tracker units in them. Were going to have them staged throughout various areas throughout the county, said Senior Agent Jason Waddell, Medway Drug Enforcement Agency.

The boxes will be around Wooster and throughout Wayne County.

Well just monitor the activity, Waddell said. When these things start moving, well know right away.

Homeowners have used everything from glitter bombs to cat feces to technology to try to deter the bad guys in recent years.

RELATED: Former NASA engineer fights porch pirates with glitter bomb package trap

But GPS holds unique promise in the county, where stolen items have been traded for drugs. If they can be tracked, more than one crime may be solved.

RELATED: GPS devices being placed in packages in Cuyahoga Falls to deter thieves

People are out stealing packages, hoping to get something that will help support their habit, Waddell said. If we know the people, we might want to wait and see where they deliver our package to.

He said it could ultimately lead to a search warrant in a known drug house.

Homeowners will volunteer their porches for the program. Everything from TVs to clothing will have the GPS devices in them and come in boxes that look reputable.

Read more here:
Police putting 'bait packages' on porches in Wooster and Wayne County - WKYC.com

Two women wanted in connection with a string of package thefts in Greenville County have been arrested.Angelia Michelle Wardlaw, 42, has been charged with five counts of petit larceny, second-degree burglary and criminal conspiracy. Wardlaw was arrested on an outstanding grand larceny warrant from an October crime.Investigators arrested the second suspect, Holly Lundie, Saturday afternoon. She has been charged with five counts of petit larceny, one count of second-degree burglary, one count of criminal conspiracy, and one count of grand larceny, unrelated to the porch thefts.The package thefts happened last week. A doorbell camera caught two women snatching just-delivered boxes in Simpsonville.Kristy Chasse uploaded the video Tuesday to ulocal after she reported the theft to the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.AdvertisementShe said the theft happened about 2:15 p.m., within four minutes of when a UPS driver dropped the boxes off on her porch in the Twin Creeks neighborhood near Five Forks in Simpsonville.The Ring video shows a woman getting out of a blue Ford Taurus driven by another woman.The woman opens the trunk of the car, runs up to the porch, takes a box marked from Kohl's, runs back to the car and tries to fit it into the trunk.The woman then runs back to the porch, grabs another box, returns to the car and puts the box in the back seat.She then grabs the box out of the trunk and puts that in the second seat before getting into the vehicle and driving off.Lt. Ryan Flood, with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, confirmed the report and said a "be on the lookout" alert was issued on the vehicle and the women to Upstate law enforcement."I am a single mom and these were Christmas gifts, Chasse said in her uLocal post.Flood said investigators believe the women are responsible for stealing packages from at least five different homes in Greenville County.Flood said the incidents happened between noon and 3 p.m. Nov. 19 on William Seth Court, Mercer Drive and Roper Mountain Road.

Two women wanted in connection with a string of package thefts in Greenville County have been arrested.

Greenville County Sheriff's Office

Angelia Michelle Wardlaw, 42, has been charged with five counts of petit larceny, second-degree burglary and criminal conspiracy. Wardlaw was arrested on an outstanding grand larceny warrant from an October crime.

Investigators arrested the second suspect, Holly Lundie, Saturday afternoon. She has been charged with five counts of petit larceny, one count of second-degree burglary, one count of criminal conspiracy, and one count of grand larceny, unrelated to the porch thefts.

Greenville County Sheriff's Office

Greenville Co. Sheriff's Office

The package thefts happened last week. A doorbell camera caught two women snatching just-delivered boxes in Simpsonville.

Kristy Chasse uploaded the video Tuesday to ulocal after she reported the theft to the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.

Advertisement

She said the theft happened about 2:15 p.m., within four minutes of when a UPS driver dropped the boxes off on her porch in the Twin Creeks neighborhood near Five Forks in Simpsonville.

The Ring video shows a woman getting out of a blue Ford Taurus driven by another woman.

The woman opens the trunk of the car, runs up to the porch, takes a box marked from Kohl's, runs back to the car and tries to fit it into the trunk.

The woman then runs back to the porch, grabs another box, returns to the car and puts the box in the back seat.

She then grabs the box out of the trunk and puts that in the second seat before getting into the vehicle and driving off.

Lt. Ryan Flood, with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, confirmed the report and said a "be on the lookout" alert was issued on the vehicle and the women to Upstate law enforcement.

"I am a single mom and these were Christmas gifts, Chasse said in her uLocal post.

Flood said investigators believe the women are responsible for stealing packages from at least five different homes in Greenville County.

Flood said the incidents happened between noon and 3 p.m. Nov. 19 on William Seth Court, Mercer Drive and Roper Mountain Road.

Link:
Second porch pirate arrested after recent package thefts, deputies say - WYFF4 Greenville

WINK NEWS

With the holidays approaching, its a wonderful time of year for gathering in good cheer with friends and family. Its also a perfect time for porch pirates to swipe packages meant for loved ones off peoples doorsteps.

With the likelihood that many people are expecting packages as the holidays approach, there are steps people can follow to avoid gifts coming in the mail from falling into the wrong hands.

We will be ordering stuff for holiday gifts, so we will have quite a few things being dropped off, Joann Mailhott said.

Mailhott said she expects even more deliveries than the 20 packages she gets every month, and she wants to ensure each and every item that arrives to her home ends up inside it.

If I realize its the UPS or the mail carrier, then, I know I am good, Mailhott said, And I know I have to get out there and retrieve my package.

Statistically, 26 million Americans have fallen victim in their lifetime.

Charlotte County Sheriffs Office has a few recommendations:

These days, you dont know whats going to happen, said Roberto Loiacono in Harbor Heights. So I think security cameras are a good deterrent and detection.

Smart home cameras seem to be a trend. Researchers predict the number of homeowners installing these types of systems will triple by 2023.

A homeowners best bet is to schedule packages to be delivered when they are home. And its recommended that neighbors help neighbors.

If someone steals a package from a porch or suspicious activity is witnessed, its recommended to contact local law enforcement and report it.

Just look out for one another always, Mailhott said. That is what we are here to do.

Read the original:
How to prevent porch pirates getting your gifts this holiday season - Wink News

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

WESTMINSTER, Colo. -- A brewery in Westminster is accepting holiday packages in an effort to stem thefts from porch pirates.

Chris Miser is the owner of Frolic Brewing Company.

He is encouraging people to ship their packages to the brewery's facility on Zuni Street near West 128th Avenue.

Miser has a large space currently under renovation where he is offering to store packages for free until people can pick them up after work.

"We live in a nice community area and we wanted to be a community brew pub, and I thought itd be a nice idea to support the community by preventing porch pirates," Miser said.

According to a recent study by Digital Third Coast, a Chicago-based marketing agency, 36 percent of Americans have dealt with a package theft over the past year. That figure is up from 31 percent in 2017.

Ninety-two percent of consumers expect to get at least one online order stolen this holiday season.

"Since we posted it on social media, we've had numerous people write in and say, 'This is a great idea, we just had something stolen yesterday,'" Miser said.

Frolic Brewing is located at 12910 Zuni St., Suite 1300, Westminster, CO 80234. Be sure to include your name so the brewery can write you on Facebook when your package arrives.

If you don't want to drive to a brewery in Westminster, Amazon is also continuing its Amazon Locker service. These are locations, often in 7-Elevens, where you can have your package sent and stored in a secure locker until you can pick it up.

There are several Amazon Locker sites throughout the Denver metro area.

Originally posted here:
Prevent porch pirate thefts by shipping your holiday packages to a Westminster brewery - FOX 31 Denver