Securing Your Holiday Mail

In recent years, holiday shoppers have been moving away from the old “Black Friday” retailer dash towards the convenience of online shopping, called “Cyber Monday.” Amid looming year-end project deadlines, inclement weather, and travel and traffic, having gifts delivered to your home can save a lot of time and stress. Unfortunately, this convenience also invites the attention of thieves—so-called “porch pirates” who steal unattended packages from homes. (An estimated 23 million Americans had packages stolen from their doorsteps in 2015.) To protect your precious holiday cargo, try these helpful tools and techniques:​

• Doorbell camera: Investing in a doorbell camera can both deter potential thieves and provide valuable information if thefts do occur. Most options are Wi-Fi based and will notify your smart device if motion is detected. Several include talkback options (to speak with visitors) and some even include a pre-record option for capturing the first few seconds when motion is detected. With starting costs as low as $100, these are a great way to get some basic security with a minimal investment.
• Motion sensor lights: We’re all familiar with the energy savings, but motion sensor lights can also help deter crime and they’re cost effective, starting at $20 per fixture!
• Send them elsewhere: If technological options don’t appeal to you, we recommend having packages delivered to your place of work or asking a friend or neighbor if they would receive your delivery when you are away from home. Most carriers also offer scheduled delivery windows or designated pick-up locations (such as FedEx stores or Amazon lockers) for a nominal fee

Package deliveries aren’t the only risky part of holiday shopping. Many shoppers are also buying gifts from individuals on social media sites in an effort to save money. However, the old adage should be considered: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is! Police Officials warn that any transactions arranged through Craigslist should be handled in a public place or a police station with a safe exchange zone. If a prospective seller isn’t willing to meet at a public location, that should be a warning for you to move on.

Whatever shopping strategy you choose, protecting your purchases can make the difference between the perfect gift or a jingle-bell disaster!