At any time when you’ve gotten a bundle delivered to your door, there’s an opportunity you may fall sufferer to porch pirates. Sadly, tons of individuals every year have packages stolen as they arrive within the mail. With the vacation season developing, it’s necessary to make sure your packages are delivered safely. Listed below are some information about porch pirates and how one can obtain packages safely at your rental.
Contents of This Article:
What are Porch Pirates?
Porch pirates are those that steal packages from different folks’s properties. Though it seems like an unfathomable exercise for many, porch pirates are extra widespread than you might assume. That stated, folks could steal packages for a number of causes.
For example, taking a bundle from somebody’s doorstep is just not troublesome, so it’s normally only a crime of alternative. Another excuse a porch pirate strikes is that if there’s an opportunity of precious merchandise, like a cellphone, laptop, or gaming system. The thought is that they will take the merchandise and resell it for revenue.
For the reason that begin of the pandemic in 2020, there’s been a steep rise in porch pirate incidents. Throughout this time, there have been important will increase in on-line orders as most individuals stayed dwelling as an alternative of purchasing in individual. As such, extra packages had been being delivered to folks’s doorsteps. Subsequent, we’ll go over statistics about porch pirates and the way widespread bundle theft is.
How Frequent Is Bundle Theft Across the Holidays?
In line with a 2022 examine by C+R Analysis, round 14% of Individuals have had packages stolen by porch pirates. Some folks have fallen sufferer greater than as soon as, with 22% of individuals having two packages stolen and 11% having three or extra stolen.
That stated, through the holidays, bundle theft is even worse. Surprisingly, round 43% of Individuals who vacation store on-line declare they’ve skilled bundle theft. As well as, most individuals (about 59%) who’ve packages stolen dwell in city areas, round 38% dwell in suburban areas, and 31% dwell in rural areas.
This yr, most Individuals (84%) plan on having at the least one bundle delivered through the vacation season. With that, solely 26% are apprehensive about porch pirates hanging this yr, whereas 37% of individuals know somebody who’s had a bundle stolen through the holidays.
All in all, it’s essential to maintain your packages protected from porch pirates. However how will you forestall somebody from taking your packages if you happen to’re not dwelling? Listed below are some ideas for receiving packages safely if you happen to dwell in a rental property.
Suggestions for Receiving Packages Safely at Your Rental
Getting packages delivered to your house or rental property may be nerve-wracking. If you happen to’re not dwelling and also you don’t have safety cameras, it may be arduous to find out the place your bundle actually is. That stated, if you wish to keep away from porch pirates, there are a number of methods you’ll be able to obtain packages safely.
- Monitor Your Supply
- Require Signature on Supply
- Schedule Supply Days
- Use the “Ship to Retailer” Choice
Monitor Your Supply
One of many high methods to keep away from porch pirates is by monitoring your bundle supply. Conveniently, all main supply firms and the US Postal Service provide updates on when a bundle will arrive. Once you observe your bundle on-line, you’ll be able to see precisely the place it’s and when will probably be delivered, so you’ll be able to control the doorstep.
Nevertheless, if you happen to’re not dwelling, contemplate having a neighbor or trusted pal control your bundle. In spite of everything, one of the best ways to keep away from porch piracy is to restrict the time between supply and retrieval.
Require Signature on Supply
Usually, supply drivers go away packages in your porch or at your entrance door. Nevertheless, there’s extra you are able to do to make sure protected supply. For instance, if the delivery firm permits it, you’ll be able to require a signature upon supply.
This technique is great for days whenever you’re dwelling and might signal for packages. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re at work or gone for the day, it can lead to missed deliveries. However, if it’s an costly or precious bundle, it may be definitely worth the wait to make sure it’s not sitting out all day.
Schedule Supply Days
One other nice technique to keep away from porch pirates is scheduling your supply days. Normally, before you purchase one thing on-line, it’ll offer you an estimate of when it’ll arrive. Then, you may be ready to take your bundle inside so it’s not sitting out all day.
Some on-line purchasing websites, like Amazon, additionally help you schedule your entire deliveries collectively. This will additionally assist keep away from porch pirates by limiting the variety of packages you get through the week.
Use the “Ship to Retailer” Choice
Most retailers provide a handy “ship to retailer” choice if you happen to’re purchasing on-line. That manner, you’ll be able to order any merchandise that they don’t have in inventory and purchase it on-line as an alternative. Then, if you happen to dwell close to the shop’s bodily location, you’ll be able to ship it there as an alternative of to your house.
Nevertheless, this selection is fairly inconvenient if you happen to don’t dwell close to the retail retailer or don’t need to spend time working errands. Moreover, in-store pickup isn’t out there for each retailer or on-line retailer, so it solely works with sure gadgets.
Safety Choices Landlords Ought to Take into account
You’re chargeable for retaining your property and tenants protected whenever you personal rental properties. Nevertheless, it may be arduous to cease porch pirates, particularly when no person is dwelling. That stated, listed here are some solutions for property managers in Northern Virginia that need to guarantee their tenants’ mail and packages are protected through the vacation season.
- Set Up Safety Cameras
- Present a Good Supply Field
- Set up Movement Detector Lights
Set Up Safety Cameras
Among the best methods to assist your tenants keep protected and keep away from porch pirates is by putting in safety cameras. Lately, there are a number of safety choices, together with doorbell cameras, conventional safety methods, and extra.
General, safety cameras are nice for a number of causes and can assist in additional situations than simply porch pirates. Nevertheless, shopping for and putting in them gained’t be low cost, so that you’ll have to avoid wasting and plan accordingly.
Present a Good Supply Field
One other manner you’ll be able to assist your tenants keep away from porch pirates is by offering a wise supply field. A wise supply field is a lockable field that sits in your porch to guard packages from the weather and from porch pirates.
You’ll have to enter a code to open the field, which you’ll share with supply drivers and nobody else. Whereas it’s not mandatory for a rental property, some folks is perhaps keen to pay extra for additional safety.
Set up Movement Detector Lights
Lastly, putting in movement detector lights is one other option to shield your tenants. In spite of everything, if somebody’s attempting to steal one thing or break into somebody’s property, they’re hoping to strike with out being seen.
Nevertheless, movement detector lights can scare them away earlier than they’ve an opportunity. As such, putting in them on your rental properties may be extremely helpful.
Defend Your Leases with Property Administration
If you wish to shield your rental from porch pirates and different threats, contemplate hiring property administration. Apart from cameras and safety gadgets, property managers can guarantee your tenants and leases are protected all yr spherical. So, if you happen to’re on the lookout for complete property administration companies, attain out to Bay Property Administration Group.
Bay Property Administration Group gives a variety of property administration companies, from tenant screening to rental registration. So whether or not you need assistance discovering new tenants or rental upkeep, we’ve obtained you lined. Contact BMG at this time if you happen to want rental administration in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC.