DATE: November 28, 2023
SUBJECT: Beware of Porch Pirates this Holiday Season
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-NR-1128
CONTACT: Sheriff Noah Robinson
AUTHORITY: Sheriff Noah Robinson
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office is cautioning residents about “porch piracy.”
Porch pirates have struck several times in our county already this year and will likely continue their raids throughout the holidays. These pirates snatch packages from the front doors of homes and make off with the loot. Porch pirates have been known to follow UPS and FedEx trucks, grabbing packages soon after delivery.
How to defend against porch pirates:
- Bring in packages as quickly as possible.
- Sign up for text-based delivery notifications through your online retailer.
- Ask a neighbor to bring your packages inside if you are away.
- Consider deterrent options such as a Package Guard or a Video Doorbell.
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), online shopping has been one of the biggest shifts in consumer behavior from the COVID-19 pandemic. Online purchasing is expected to increase between 7% and 9% over last year.
Sheriff Noah Robinson stated, “With a little planning and a few simple precautions, we can minimize the risk posed by these porch pirates.”
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