INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – (October 16, 2024) – With the holiday season approaching, so too are the plans of porch pirates who steal delivery packages from doorsteps. Without knowing how to prevent this issue, many people are left at the mercy and hope their porch is not the one hit. But that strategy is not likely enough to keep their packages safe. Arrive AI, a pioneering technology company, is one step ahead, developing innovative solutions to protect packages and revolutionize delivery security.
“Porch pirates are well-prepared for the holiday season, often stealing packages the moment they’re delivered,” says Arrive AI CEO Dan O’Toole. “We’re developing patented technology to stop them in their tracks, starting with innovative delivery security solutions for businesses today and expanding to residential solutions in the near future.”
This has become such a pervasive issue that state legislatures are taking it up. Numerous states, including Kentucky, New Jersey, Georgia, Michigan, and Texas, have or are in the process of passing laws regarding porch pirating. When someone has a package stolen, they may feel alone in the theft, but really, it’s part of a much bigger issue. In fact, the statistics surrounding it are astounding.
In a survey conducted in September 2024 by Security.org, 44 million packages had been stolen in the prior three months. In the past year, they report $8 billion worth of merchandise stolen from porches. It’s difficult to even keep up with the number of packages being stolen from porches around the country. It is theft on a scale likely never seen before.
The survey conducted by Security.org found that 18% of people do nothing to help prevent it, and 12% don’t report it if it does. Some things can be done to help prevent porch pirates from stealing holiday packages, including:
- Installing cameras. While it is not an absolute way to stop package theft, having a camera aimed at the porch will help deter some thieves. It also provides you with video footage to supply to the police department if theft happens.
- Creating connections. When neighbors come together to help watch each other’s porches, it helps keep theft down. Those who won’t be home or see on their camera that a package has been delivered can ask a neighbor to grab it.
- Scheduling deliveries. Try to schedule deliveries when someone will be there to receive them. Those who will be gone all day or are going away for a trip should make arrangements for a different delivery day or location or have someone pick up the package.
- Using alternate delivery locations. There are other places where consumers can have packages delivered or picked up. These include stores, delivery lockers, family and friends who will be home, and their place of work.
If packages are stolen from one’s porch, the person should notify all the parties involved in the delivery, including the store and carrier that made the delivery. They should also report the theft to their local police department and inform their neighbors of the issue.
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