Iredell Sheriff Warns About Porch Pirates After Cyber Monday

MOORESVILLE, NC -- If you participated in Cyber Monday shopping, Nov. 28, you are far from alone. It was the biggest online shopping day in history. That means while you’re anxiously awaiting for your packages to arrive on your doorstep, local thieves could be, too.

Online purchases rang up an estimated $7 billion in sales, with more than $2 billion coming from mobile devices, which were almost 17 percent higher than 2016’s Cyber Monday, according to Marketing Land.

That means there is more opportunity for porch pirates who prowl around neighborhoods during the holiday season waiting to pounce. In a move also dubbed by police as "front porch shopping," observant thieves will follow delivery trucks and steal recently delivered packages from porches and stoops.

“We are working hard to make sure your home and property are safe during this holiday season,” Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said Tuesday. “Now that Cyber Monday is behind us, we wanted to pass along some tips to make sure your holiday purchases make it to the correct destination.”

Cambell’s tips include:

• Choose to track your packages. This way they spend a minimal amount of time unprotected because you know when they get delivered.
• Have packages delivered to an alternate delivery site such as a trusted neighbor or your work. This way you know the packages don't end up sitting at the front door until you get home from work.
• Request a signature delivery. This shipping method will require a signature to confirm delivery.

Police and security experts have shared additional reminders on how to thwart "porch pirates" and ensure you receive your packages:

• Request that the shipper holds the package at their facility for pickup.
• Insure valuable items.
• Provide delivery instructions so packages are left out of sight from the street.
• Watch out for vehicles following delivery vans through neighborhoods. Some thieves will simply shadow deliver drivers and go from house to house stealing newly delivered packages.
• When sending packages, take them to a post office or other shipping facility rather than leaving them outside your home for pickup. Let the person you are sending the package to know to expect the package.
• Show off your home security system; make sure you have a sign in the front yard. If you have security cameras, make sure potential thieves know they're there, and if you have a doorbell camera, use it.
• Sign up for email notifications from FedEx, UPS and businesses like Amazon and Urban Outfitters to track your package from initial shipment to its arrival at your home or the recipient's address if you have the gift delivered directly.

Any resident who sees anything suspicious should call the Sheriff’s office dispatch, Campbell said. That number is 704-878-3100.

Patch Editor Deb Belt contributed to this report.

Photo via Pixabay