EFFECT JANUARY 1ST. WELL, IF YOU’VE RECEIVED A BIG TICKET ITEM, YOU MAY BE WARY ABOUT HOW YOU’RE GOING TO GET RID OF THE BOX THAT IT CAME IN. WESH TWO DAVID JONES SHOWS US HOW THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS USING BURGLAR BOXES TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. WE WANT TO KEEP OUR RESIDENTS SAFE, AND THESE BOXES DO JUST THAT. WITH PEOPLE SEEING WHAT YOU JUST BOUGHT INSIDE YOUR HOME. WE CALL IT A CRIME OF OPPORTUNITY. SERGEANT HELEN RANDOLPH IS WITH THE CRIME PREVENTION UNIT AT THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE. BUT WE DO SOMETIMES SEE MORE TARGETED TYPES OF CRIMES OCCURRING DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. MEANING WHEN YOU BUY OR RECEIVE A LARGE ELECTRONIC OR VALUABLE ITEM. THINK A FLAT SCREEN TV, GAMING CONSOLE, LAPTOP. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE BOX? INSTEAD OF PUTTING THEM OUT BY YOUR CURB? ADVERTISING WHAT’S INSIDE YOUR HOUSE, YOU’RE ABLE TO TAKE THEM TO ONE OF OUR RECYCLING BOXES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THESE BOXES ARE SUPER CONVENIENT FOR FOLKS WHO DON’T LIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDES A RECYCLING BIN. OR MAYBE YOUR BOXES ARE JUST TOO LARGE TO FIT IN THE CAN. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS THESE BOXES IN EIGHT LOCATIONS ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY. THE LOCATIONS COVER EVERY PART OF THE COUNTY FROM OCSO SUBSTATIONS TO SUPERMARKETS. RANDOLPH SAYS THEY ALLOW FOR ALL ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENTS TO BE A SHORT DRIVE TO A DROP OFF SPOT. BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO DON’T LIVE IN ORANGE COUNTY? JUST MAKE SURE YOU’RE BREAKING DOWN YOUR BOXES AND USING YOUR RECYCLING BINS THAT THE THE COMMUNITIES GIVE YOU, THAT YOUR GOVERNMENT GIVES YOU. THE BOXES ARE AT ALL LOCATIONS NOW THROUGH THE FIRST FULL WEEK OF THE YEAR, STARTING JANUARY 5TH.
‘Burglar boxes’ in Orange County deter would-be thieves during holidays
The boxes will stay up until around Jan. 5 for people to drop off boxes from large purchases.
Updated: 10:25 PM EST Dec 28, 2025
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has established eight sites countywide where residents can drop off large, cardboard boxes from big purchases like TVs or electronics.The purpose of these so-called “burglar boxes” is to deter would-be thieves who may see empty boxes outside of a home and strike.”With people seeing what you just bought inside your home, we call it a crime of opportunity,” said Sgt. Helen Randolph with OCSO. “Instead of putting them out by your curb, advertising what’s inside your house, you’re able to take them to one of our recycling boxes throughout the county.”Where to find a ‘burglar box’ in Orange CountyThe eight locations OCSO has will ensure every resident is within a short drive from a box, and are as follows:North West OCSO Sector 1 Sub-Station: 1111 North Rock Springs Rd, Apopka, 32712 OCSO Sector 3 Sub-Station: 475 West Story Rd, Ocoee, 34761East East Orange Community Center: 12050 East Colonial Dr, Orlando 32826 LaQuinta Inn: 11805 Research Parkway, Orlando, 32826West Saint Luke’s United Methodist: 4851 S. Apopka Vineland Rd, Orlando 32819 Orange County Sheriff’s Office: 2500 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando, 32804Central Sedano’s Supermarket: 12981 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, 32837South West Winn-Dixie: 11957 South Apopka Vineland Rd., Orlando, 32836The boxes will be in place until the week of Jan. 5.For those who don’t live in Orange County, Randolph said there are steps you can take to protect your property.”Just make sure you’re breaking down your boxes and using your recycling bins, the communities give you, that your government gives you,” she said.
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has established eight sites countywide where residents can drop off large, cardboard boxes from big purchases like TVs or electronics.
The purpose of these so-called “burglar boxes” is to deter would-be thieves who may see empty boxes outside of a home and strike.
“With people seeing what you just bought inside your home, we call it a crime of opportunity,” said Sgt. Helen Randolph with OCSO. “Instead of putting them out by your curb, advertising what’s inside your house, you’re able to take them to one of our recycling boxes throughout the county.”
Where to find a ‘burglar box’ in Orange County
The eight locations OCSO has will ensure every resident is within a short drive from a box, and are as follows:
North West OCSO Sector 1 Sub-Station: 1111 North Rock Springs Rd, Apopka, 32712 OCSO Sector 3 Sub-Station: 475 West Story Rd, Ocoee, 34761East East Orange Community Center: 12050 East Colonial Dr, Orlando 32826 LaQuinta Inn: 11805 Research Parkway, Orlando, 32826West Saint Luke’s United Methodist: 4851 S. Apopka Vineland Rd, Orlando 32819 Orange County Sheriff’s Office: 2500 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando, 32804Central Sedano’s Supermarket: 12981 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, 32837South West Winn-Dixie: 11957 South Apopka Vineland Rd., Orlando, 32836
The boxes will be in place until the week of Jan. 5.
For those who don’t live in Orange County, Randolph said there are steps you can take to protect your property.
“Just make sure you’re breaking down your boxes and using your recycling bins, the communities give you, that your government gives you,” she said.