How To Stop Holiday Package Thefts In Highland Park

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Once again, a growing number of shoppers in Highland Park will turn to computers and smartphones to check gifts off their shopping lists this holiday season.

Experts project holiday e-commerce sales in the United States will reach a record $207 billion between November and December, a 10 percent increase over 2020 sales, according to data from Adobe Analytics.

Yet as online sales increase, consumers in Highland Park, Highwood and across the country are almost sure to see an uptick in packages disappearing from front porches.

Nationwide, as online shopping spiked during the pandemic, the number of U.S. consumers who reported having a package stolen rose from 36 percent in 2019 to 43 percent in 2020, according to a report by Chicago-based C+R Research. Among 2020’s victims, nearly two-thirds said they had been a victim of package theft more than once.

According to C+R’s report, on average, the value of a stolen package in 2020 was $136; however, 81 percent say they received a refund on the stolen items.

Still, as package thieves — or “porch pirates” — become more clever, consumers need to be one step ahead when it comes to preventing package theft.

About 35.5 million Americans say they’ve been the victim of package theft in the past 12 months, according to the most recent data by Finder.com. As a result, consumers lost about $5.4 billion in merchandise.

Highland Park Police Deputy Chief William Bonaguidi told Patch that his department has not seen any changes to the prevalence of package thefts in recent years.

Bonaguidi said Highland Park police frequently patrol residential areas to prevent package thefts.

Who Steals A Package?

Finder’s study revealed that men are more likely to be both package thieves and victims of the crime. About 5 percent of men admitted stealing a package compared with 0.85 percent of women.

Meanwhile, 17 percent of men had a package stolen in the past year, compared with 11 percent of women.

Has the pandemic changed the approach of Highland Park police to preventing and responding to porch piracy?

"It has not," Bonaguidi said. "The Highland Park Police Department has and continues to maintain full services throughout the pandemic."

Prevention Tips

To prevent porch piracy, Highland Park police recommend residents:

• Arrange for secure or in person delivery.
• Consider conspicuous camera systems.
• Report suspicious behavior.

And here are five tips Finder shared to help Americans keep from becoming a victim of a package theft:

• Try curbside pickup: Drive to the store; most offer curbside pickup options.
• Use a post office box: This will ensure the package is handled by a professional at the Highland Park or Highwood post offices.
• Video surveillance: Doorbell cameras such as Ring can allow homeowners to scare away the thief in real time.
• Require a signature: This way, the package cannot go unattended.
• Have it sent to your workplace: Public places typically have a greater chance of using security cameras.