A 2016 report says that UPS alone will deliver more than 700 million packages to homes and businesses between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. It’s prime time for thieves to run off with those holiday deliveries, and a report from insuranceQuotes.com confirms it: An estimated 23 million Americans have had packages stolen from their homes. Don’t be a part of that statistic this year–add some smart tech to your home to protect your holiday packages. Here are a few ideas:
Doorbell Camera: Available from companies including August Home, Vivint, and Ring, among others, these devices allow you to speak with the delivery person remotely from your smartphone, view the delivery in process, and if you add a companion electronic door lock, even unlock the door for the delivery person to leave your package inside. You can watch him leave your house and lock the house back up as you work, shop, or sip coffee at your local café.
Surveillance Camera: Look for a camera that has a built in motion detector and a built-in SD card. The idea: when the camera notices someone approach your front door, it begins recording. Another nice feature: some surveillance cameras send you a text message when they detect motion. You can then view the action in real time. You might not be able to catch the crook right then and there, but you’ll have visual evidence to use later.
Surveillance Camera on Steroids: Kuna combines a motion sensor, surveillance camera, and speaker/microphone into a stylish exterior light fixture. The product can notify you when it notices someone on your porch and can either sound an alarm or play a prerecorded greeting, such as “Can I help you?”; “Sorry, not interested”; or “I’m busy right now.” You choose your method of deterrent via a companion app.
Ring offers a similar product, but instead of a standard exterior light, it integrates a floodlight with a built-in camera, motion sensor, and two-way talk.
Specialty Sensor: Part of a good offense is a good defense—in other words, you can prevent porch piracy by actually removing the packages before thieves even have a chance to get to them. At about the size of a Frisbee, a device called the Package Guard notifies you and your neighbor via a text the instant a package is set on the disc. The can disarm the Package Guard remotely or leave it on—in which case a loud siren will activate if the package is removed.
Other Tips to Deter Porch Pirates
Lived in look. Buy a few lights that can be set up to turn on and off in a random pattern. You can buy motorized window shades that can do the same thing.
Security all around. Complete security systems that you can install yourself are widely available. Many of these let you pay for professional monitoring only when you really need it—like during the holidays.
Lots of lights. Be sure your entire property—not just the front porch—is adequately illuminated. Motion triggered lights are great.
Signs of security. Let potential thieves know they are being watched by installing surveillance cameras in plain sight. Also, make sure the yard sign that comes with your system can be easily spotted. Vivint makes one that includes a solar light so it’s visible at night.
Valuable protection. The Home8 Action View Wi-Fi Camera and MEMS Valuables Tracking Sensor will send you and alert if something valuable in your home is tampered with or moved—like a painting, vase, or jewelry box. The camera then springs into action, letting you view what’s happening via your smartphone
Security is one of the most popular electronic amenities for the smart home. Whether your system is programmed by a professional or you go it alone by using DIY home security products, a well-planned system can ensure peace of mind.Nothing’s More Important Than Keeping Your Home Safe for Your Family
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How about integrating doorbell camera with a smart lock via a smart home system? That way the delivery person can physically leave the package in the house and remove all the possibility of someone taking the package in the first place. We at First Priority Audio accomplish this by using Doorbird, Yale locks, and Control4. It works great!
All of this “tech” will be thwarted by a delivery person that either can’t read, won’t read or is too lazy to do something as simple as ringing a doorbell! I have a home automation system that notifies me when mail is delivered to the mailbox with a message in the house and sends an SMS Text to my phone. The same system does the same thing any time some one rings any doorbell. I have cameras on all of the doors and all around the house. To that end, I also have a large sign on the front door advising ANY delivery person to ring the doorbell when delivering a package. Several times packages have been delivered and actually put on top of the sign and guess what.. NO DOORBELL WAS RUNG!!! I called the offending carrier (FedEx) and their response was to make a bigger sign! I made a bigger sign and put one on each side of the door. Guess what.. last Friday afternoon again FedEx delivered 6 large packages of sensitive electronics, put them on the outside edge of the front porch in full view of the highway in a misting rain and you guessed it, NO DOORBELL, not even a knock on the door. I was sitting inside the house not 30′ from the door when they dropped off the packages and heard nothing. We have had some issues in our neighborhood with package theft this summer and now I am starting to wonder if some of the ones delivering packages are working with some of the ones stealing packages!