Porch piracy peaks during the holidays, placing Pennsylvania among the top five states for theft, with over 5 million packages stolen this year.
PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Package thefts rise each year during the holiday season.
A recent Safewise study ranked Pennsylvania as the fifth worst state for package theft, with more than 5 million packages stolen this year alone.
The brazen thefts involve an individual or group stealing a delivery from a person’s property.
Package thieves are commonly referred to as ‘porch pirates.’
“We see people picking packages up off of people’s porches or out of their driveways or from in front of their apartments,” York township resident Karen Graham explained.
The thefts are particularly concerning for Graham, who regularly receives medications for her son.
“That takes a big toll when they take his medical supplies because most of the time, they are very expensive, and the companies only replace them one time,” she shared.
The police explained there are steps to reduce the risk.
“One of the easiest solutions is to have installed cameras,” Lt. Timothy Clymer, with the York City Police Department, said. “It would be either a front door, garage door or any sites where there would be a door option for the package to be dropped off.”
Officials also shared these three tips:
Track the package until it’s delivered to your addressInstall security systems for your home, like a package locker or camerasIf you are not home, have a trusted individual retrieve your package
Graham shared she’s started making changes to her own online orders.
“We have added to the address line ‘back porch only,'” Graham said. “Because if you live on one of the major roads, it’s extremely hard to keep your packages.”
Whether it’s a $5 item or a $500 item, police recommend it’s always important to report and file a dispute with the company you ordered from.
“We treat it all the same — as soon as something seems wrong, report it,” Clymer said.