Foil 'Porch Pirates' With These Tips From Hazlet Police

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — There was already Black Friday. Then came Cyber Monday. Now there's a National Package Protection Day, marked on Nov. 29.

It promotes awareness about "porch theft" of items you carefully shopped for that then get stolen once delivered to your house.

According to a Security.org survey:

• 17 percent of Americans have had a package stolen in the past three months. The typical stolen parcel was worth about $50. Forty-four percent have had a package taken at some point in their life.
• Package thieves poached more than $8 billion in merchandise over the past year.

Area police departments often warn residents about the trend. And Hazlet police provided some specifics on how to protect yourself from "porch pirates."

"While it's awesome to get your packages quickly, packages that are left outside for a long period of time are at risk of being plundered by porch pirates," the Hazlet police say.

Here are some ways to keep your deliveries from being stolen:

• If possible, schedule deliveries for days you will be home and available to bring the package inside.
• Track your packages so you know when they arrive.
• If you cannot be home for the delivery, have a trusted neighbor or friend collect the package for you.
• Request that the delivery company place your packages in an area that is not visible from the street.
• Invest in a camera system with motion detection and recording.
• If you do have packages stolen from your porch, you can file a theft report with your local police department.

Hazlet police advise that, if you see someone stealing packages from your neighbor's front porch, the best way to help is to get a license plate, a good description of the suspect (appearance and apparel) and vehicle (color, make, model any obvious markings), and call police immediately.