We all know package theft is a growing problem. What we colloquially refer to as ‘porch piracy’ costs billions of dollars every year. Package thieves have no intention of slowing down, either. So to protect yourself against them, you need a holistic approach. You cannot depend exclusively on a doorbell camera.
We normally associate the term ‘holistic’ with healthcare and well-being. A doctor practicing holistic medicine does not merely treat symptoms in isolation. He looks at the whole person in body, mind, and spirit. He seeks total well-being rather than merely relief of the patient’s current problem.
Holistic home security works the same way. Preventing package theft is just one component of a much broader practice. For any of us who have been victimized by porch pirates, responding by taking a holistic approach to preventing future thefts is a smart move.
A Simple but Effective Crime
An estimated 104 million packages were stolen from front porches and stoops in 2025. In terms of dollars and cents, the combined losses to both consumers and retailers came in at $37 billion. Yet the total damage of package theft is less surprising when you understand what a simple but effective crime it is.
Breaking into a home makes noise. It also takes at least a few minutes to define what you are looking for before ducking out. By comparison, package theft is a lot quieter and much quicker. It only takes seconds to snatch a package and get back to your car. And of course, you can do it silently.
Making package theft more attractive is the very reason packages are left sitting on the front porch: people are not home. We can thank the dual-income lifestyle for that. With both parents working and the kids off to school, entire neighborhoods are virtually empty for large portions of the day. They represent an open invitation to package thieves who can effortlessly drive up and down neighborhood streets looking for packages to steal.
Source: phillymag.com
The Doorbell Camera Is a Starting Point
Fighting porch piracy was the impetus behind the original doorbell camera introduced years ago. When it was brand new, it was quite effective because package thieves were not yet up to speed. But those days are long gone. A doorbell camera can still be an important tool for fighting porch piracy. But relying on one exclusively probably isn’t going to help you a whole lot.
Sophisticated package thieves know what video doorbells look like. The most experienced know how to conceal their identities without drawing attention from neighbor’s. The most arrogant do not bother. They walk up in full view of the camera and might even taunt the homeowner with a snarky comment or two before snatching a package and running.
Vivint Home Security offers a device they call the Doorbell Camera Pro. It can be utilized along with the company’s HomeProtect package, an affordable security package offered without a monthly contract. The Doorbell Camera Pro includes 2-way talk and built-in deterrence capabilities designed to send package thieves running empty-handed.
Going Beyond the Doorbell Camera
A doorbell camera can be the foundation of an effective package theft deterrent system. But what else can homeowners do? Additional exterior cameras are a good idea.
Let us say you have an attached garage that blocks the view of your doorbell camera on one side. The doorbell camera will not pick up someone walking up the driveway until he’s almost to the door. But a camera mounted just above the overhead garage door will. A camera with two-way audio gives the homeowner an opportunity to get a package thief’s attention before he ever approaches the door.
Here are some other suggestions:
- Package tracking – Many delivery services, and some retailers, now allow customers to track packages from door-to-door. Knowing exactly when a package arrives on your doorstep gives you the opportunity to contact a neighbor and ask them to go grab it.
- Alternate locations – It is possible with some delivery providers to specify alternate delivery locations. For instance, I’ve configured one of my accounts to have all deliveries left on my enclosed porch. Packages are never left in open view of the street.
- Alternate addresses – It is also possible in some cases to have deliveries sent to alternate addresses. Packages can be sent directly to a friend, family member, or neighbor. They can also be sent to public locker locations for later pickup.
- Package lockers – Homeowners can install package lockers that are bolted to the porch or the wall. Delivery drivers place packages inside and then press a button to lock up. A package safe is too much trouble for a thief to try to steal.
There are still more ideas homeowners can consider. The goal here is to make stealing packages as difficult as possible. That is the whole point of holistic security. A homeowner makes every reasonable effort to eliminate vulnerabilities. The more vulnerabilities eliminated, the harder it is for criminals to do what they do.
Source: gehrer.com
A More Inclusive Approach to Security
This post has focused mainly on preventing package theft by way of a holistic approach. But we can go even one step further by looking at inclusivity. What do I mean by this? I mean not looking at home security strictly from the perspective of video cameras and heavy-duty locks. A more inclusive approach combines both home security and automation devices to keep criminals away.
Programmed lighting illustrates the concept perfectly. Note that burglars prefer to break into unoccupied houses. Therefore, they look for signs suggesting no one is home. You can create the illusion I’ve occupancy through automated lighting that simulates family members moving around the house. You can even include the television or your home audio system in your routines.
It used to be that a strong lock on the front door was enough to prevent most property crimes. That’s no longer the case. So whether you are concerned about burglary or porch piracy, a holistic approach is the foundation of modern home security.
