Porch Pirates and Doorbell News
By LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222726)
United States
January 20, 2023 5:01am CST
In the past 12 months, 260 million packages worth $19.5 billion have been stolen by porch pirates. For those of you outside of the US, a porch pirate is someone who will steal delivered packages or other items off the porch.
It's an easy crime with little risk and has been on the rise since so many people started ordering online during the pandemic. Consumers continue to order online; and porch pirates are even following the trucks as they make deliveries.
Items that have been stolen besides packages include bikes, chairs, loveseat, fan, shoes, plants, pots, seasonal decorations, etc.
Porch pirates aren't limited to stealing packages and items off the porch...some will jiggle doorknobs to see if they can gain entry to the house and may also steal mail. The doorknob jigglers are more serious thieves. Always keep your doors and windows locked!!!
Doorbell News on YouTube has a huge series of videos taken via the video doorbells and are narrated by Ice-T. You will be shocked at what these pirates and thieves will resort to to steal items and gain entrance to homes. Just go to YouTube and type in "Doorbell News" to view the videos. Below is a sample.
UPDATE: I forgot to mention that some drivers have been recorded taking pictures of the delivered packages and then stealing them!!!
Don't let packages sit on the porch, take any items of value off your porch; collect your mail on a regular basis and always keep your doors and windows locked.
Have you had any experience with porch pirates? If so, how many packages have you had stolen?
Photo Credit: Pixabay
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19 people like this
19 responses
@MarieCoyle (59338)
•
21 Jan 23
I do use Amazon. I have not been hit by porch pirates, thankfully. I know people who have. I do have a locked mailbox and package spot is locked as well, but it is for anything sent via US mail. Amazon ships some items via USPS of course, so they end up in the locked box. The porch items, well, we get notice as to when they will be delivered with a notice of delivery. Neighbors work together to keep packages safe if needed, and I know I can get a neighbor to pick mine up from the porch if I am not home for some reason. I know many don't have good neighbors, I am fortunate.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
21 Jan 23
I'm glad you have a good system in place.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
22 Jan 23
@MarieCoyle We are going to get a video doorbell too. We are looking at options now.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (59338)
•
21 Jan 23
@LindaOHio
So far, so good. It helps a ton to have a door camera that notifies me if anyone is near the door, so that I see the package being delivered even before I get a notice about it. So if I am home, I can get out there and get it right away. Like I said, good neighbors are great, I get theirs at times and they get mine, we just help each other out when we can.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
22 Jan 23
Nothing stolen yet, although Amazon has delivered to the wrong address a few times. Guess the people they hire nowadays are too lazy to read house numbers.
Crooks have found another source of "booty" to rob. 
Porch Pirates... Arrrr 
Porch Pirates... Arrrr 1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
23 Jan 23
I forgot to add to the article that there have been Amazon drivers that take pictures of the package in front of the door and then steal the package.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
26 Jan 23
@dgobucks226 Yes! It definitely is!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
25 Jan 23
@LindaOHio Huh, who are they hiring to drive their trucks and do deliveries? That's a problem!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
24 Jan 23
@rebelann They are able to find some of them; but if they come in from another neighborhood to steal, it might make it difficult.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
23 Jan 23
They arrest them when they can; but they're hard to catch.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502729)
• Italy
20 Jan 23
The packages are never left outside our doors, the mailman (or no matter which delivery person) ring our bell and deliver the package in our hands. If no one is at home, we tell them (online) to which neighbors he can deliver our package. If the package is delivered by the Post Office, we can ask to keep and we pick it up at the post office.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502729)
• Italy
20 Jan 23
@LindaOHio This avoid that the companies lose a lot of money because of thieves.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
20 Jan 23
Never had a problem even though we now have a video doorbell. The doorbell is mainly to see if we get snow when in Florida and if it's plowed. I also use it to check my bird feeders to alert my son to feed them for me. lol. We also have had a house alarm and motion detector for many, many years.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
23 Jan 23
@LindaOHio It’s a wonderful thing to have.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
21 Jan 23
We have a house alarm but no video doorbell. The doorbell is next on our list.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (89887)
• Rupert, Idaho
21 Jan 23
That is very scary....makes one scared to even purchase anything online anymore. Luckily I don't think I have had that issue.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
21 Jan 23
It is scary. If you watch the videos you will see them trying the doorknobs and trying to kick in the doors.
@MommyOfEli2013 (89887)
• Rupert, Idaho
22 Jan 23
@LindaOHio I haven't watched any videos....but I don't even know what to say..
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169568)
• United States
21 Jan 23
I have not heard of any around here, but I do not let things sit out that I have ordered.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98106)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Jan 23
Our packages always arrive on time here and nothing gets stolen, My friends are usually always home to take the packages and when they arrive from Amazon the delivery person sends me a photo of the package at my friends front door and I go downstairs to get it,
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
21 Jan 23
Amazon drivers have been known to take pictures of the packages and then take the packages.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22244)
• United States
24 Jan 23
A neighbor's kids twice looked in my mailbox and other mailboxes. My great-aunt and I have talked to these kids. They haven't messed with the mailbox since. They even tried to give me somebody else's package. I told that it wasn't mine and they took it to my great-aunt. I hope she found out who it belongs to.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
25 Jan 23
Yes, I saw a guy looking through everyone's mailbox. Fortunately it hasn't happened where we live now.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
20 Jan 23
I do most of my shopping online. It's very convenient since I can't get around much. The porch pirates are a big concern though.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
20 Jan 23
@LindaOHio because of Robert I don't.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86855)
• United States
20 Jan 23
Thankfully I haven’t. I have had the Post Awful deliver $500 or so in asthma medicine to the wrong house (and they admitted it), but no theft. However, I do have a locking mailbox to protect the mail (from everyone except the seasonal temps who steal it).
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
21 Jan 23
That's good that you have a locking mailbox.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54730)
• United States
20 Jan 23
Thank goodness we have never had any thieves.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135966)
• Marion, Ohio
20 Jan 23
No problems here. The doorbell should catch them if we do. But most times we are home
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
21 Jan 23
We are going to get a doorbell and screen.
1 person likes this
@zhangxueying (3362)
• China
20 Jan 23
Most of our express will not be lost, very safe.
1 person likes this
