topic Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates in Community Chat

Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

novamc1 — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 12:55:46 GMT

Just look up the info that has appeared on national TV news this morning, complete with video.

Key words for your search might be porch pirate Glitter Bomb and/or Stink Bomb.

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

cherry — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 19:32:05 GMT

Last year my neighbor had a package stolen from her porch. I have never had a problem so far, but I am able to retrieve most things that come, very soon after delivery. My neighbor was not able to, and that is why she was robbed.

I think society is going through quite an unfortunate spell of people doing things like this ,that were not commonly done a few years ago..

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

riley1 — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 13:41:35 GMT

Police in one of the counties near me are setting out "fake" packages with trackers. Hope they catch every last one of them.

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

Imaoldhippie — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 13:51:28 GMT

I saw on our local news where a lady had packages stolen from her porch. She now saves her Amazon boxes and boxes up her trash and used kitty litter, sets them out on her porch. The trash boxes have been stolen twice.

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

novamc1 — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 14:13:38 GMT

In a neighborhood very close to mine, a home video helped police nab a porch thief just a few days ago.

Nice to see that happen.

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

sidsmom — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 14:28:21 GMT

Yes, it's good the police are tackling home crimes, as they should,

but a little common sense on the part of the homeowner is

greatly appreciated.

Many of those same police departments are giving tips to prevent

home package thefts:

Have your package delivered to your work.
Have your package delivered to the home of a relative or friend that you know will be home.
Have your package held at your local post office for pickup.
Take advantage of “Ship to Store” option that many stores offer. Amazon offers a "locker" feature that allows you to pick up your package from a secure location.
Request that your package has signature confirmation upon delivery.
Ask your carrier to place package in an area out of plain view.

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

SharkE — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 14:34:34 GMT

I read about a man who put horse ***t in a box and left it out and laughed his own *ss off.

Nobody has time to steal from us I know what's coming from Informed Delivery and I'm at the window ,watching, and as soon as mail person drives off I'm half way down the driveway.

wonder how the UPS drivers don't know they're being tailed ? Always wondered about that.

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

Allegheny — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 14:49:04 GMT

@sidsmom wrote:
Yes, it's good the police are tackling home crimes, as they should,
but a little common sense on the part of the homeowner is
greatly appreciated.

Many of those same police departments are giving tips to prevent
home package thefts:

Have your package delivered to your work.
Have your package delivered to the home of a relative or friend that you know will be home.
Have your package held at your local post office for pickup.
Take advantage of “Ship to Store” option that many stores offer. Amazon offers a "locker" feature that allows you to pick up your package from a secure location.
Request that your package has signature confirmation upon delivery.
Ask your carrier to place package in an area out of plain view.

The majority of these tips are great for most of the year, but during the holiday shopping season I see issues when billions of packages are being sent. Where I worked we weren't allowed to have personal mail delivered to our mailroom. I am sure most post offices don't have the capacity to hold packages, same with Ship to Store. Requires space and employee to manage. Requesting signature confirmation slows down the delivery process if receiver is not home.

This whole situation is just disgusting. I hope those caught and charged are not just getting off easy.

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

silkyk — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 14:57:12 GMT

I would think twice before "punking" a porch pirate......he knows where you live.

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

sidsmom — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 15:17:25 GMT

@silkyk wrote:
I would think twice before "punking" a porch pirate......he knows where you live.

THIS☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️
Reposting for emphasis!

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

Kachina624 — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 15:25:05 GMT

@SharkE. I've wondered that about the UPS drivers too. Someone on our neighborhood app saw a pickup truck with packages in the bed trailing a UPS truck. When she walked out to get the license #, it drove off. She called the police. How come the UPS driver didn't see it?

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

Anonymous032819 — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 15:52:49 GMT

Because they are focused on getting the packages delivered.

You know that their deliveries are timed, right, and that their bosses want them to go faster tomorrow, than they were today?

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

Another new name Sue — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 15:57:41 GMT

Ditto for telemarketers. They know who you are and may well know your address. Proceed with caution retaliating against these people.

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

proudlyfromNJ — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 15:59:44 GMT

I had a kid in an suv deliver my package yesterday. He had a UPS shirt on which looked new(had to sign for delivery) so I noticed. Before I got to the door after first knock, he ran back to the car for something and then knocked again.

To me he was Christmas help, not a permanent driver. He seemed a bit lost with what to do so I’m sure he was so busy concentrating on the job he wouldn’t have seen anyone following him.

Now a regular driver would be a different story, although they would be just as busy.

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

sidsmom — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 17:50:51 GMT

@sidsmom wrote:
Yes, it's good the police are tackling home crimes, as they should,
but a little common sense on the part of the homeowner is
greatly appreciated.

Many of those same police departments are giving tips to prevent
home package thefts:

Have your package delivered to your work.
Have your package delivered to the home of a relative or friend that you know will be home.
Have your package held at your local post office for pickup.
Take advantage of “Ship to Store” option that many stores offer. Amazon offers a "locker" feature that allows you to pick up your package from a secure location.
Request that your package has signature confirmation upon delivery.
Ask your carrier to place package in an area out of plain view.

Another tip for AFTER you receive your delivery

(or after Christmas),

*Don't* set boxes out for garbage pickup.

That announces to HOME robbers what new devices you

just received.

Old-classic home-protection tips which need to be mentioned

often, especially this time of year.

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

MUNCHIE — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 16:50:25 GMT

UPS drivers CAN see if they are being followed..I asked my own UPS driver this question. He said he has been followed several times. I dont understand why they cannot pull over and call police with license number, at least..That could help in further investigations of stolen items.

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

BlueFinch — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 17:17:52 GMT

I think these drivers are on such a ticking clock, that they aren't capable of multitasking. They drive like crazy, jump out and throw packages, then repeat, again, and again.

I think there could be a darn camel standing in the middle of the street and they'd zoom around it, not taking in the moment, but being angry for any delays. So it doesn't surprise me they might not notice someone following them. They're working with tunnel vision.

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

novamc1 — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 19:12:18 GMT

@BlueFinch

I had an opportunity to question a UPS driver about his job, while we were both waiting on a high-rise building elevator. (I'm always curious about what people do and don't mind asking, because I always learn something.)

When a UPS driver's truck gets loaded at the warehouse or depot, he/she is expected to work until that truck is empty, no matter how many hours into the evening this might require to deliver all the packages.

They run into traffic problems and other sources of delay just like the rest of us, and you can imagine how full those trucks probably are at this time of year. They have many long days on the job.

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

Krimpette — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 19:23:22 GMT

My latest UPS delivery in the past few weeks has been 10:00PM. I feel for the drivers, however, my reg UPS guy is a vet. He's unflabbable. Said since being shot at during his duties, not much bothers him these days.

Re: Amateur justice for Porch Pirates

SunValley — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 20:21:41 GMT

@silkyk wrote:
I would think twice before "punking" a porch pirate......he knows where you live.

If they're brazen enough to steal from your porch, they are brazen enough to be vindictive.