SPD Captain gives tips to avoid becoming a victim of porch pirates

While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, Sheridan Police Department Captain Tom Ringley recommended some safety tips for avoiding becoming a victim of porch pirates. 

A popular slang term for passers-by seizing an opportunity to steal delivered packages from the front of residences, porch pirates have become a new style of criminal throughout the U.S. The term is even used by the Federal Trade Commission. 

Luckily, the offense happens very little in Sheridan, but Ringley said that’s no reason to ignore the possibility of the crime occurring in our neighborhoods. 

Capt. T. Ringley  

Installing a doorbell camera is one technique that can help, many of these perpetrators have become familiar with the appearance of a doorbell camera and simply having one installed can act as a deterrent. 

Ringley the best way to prevent the crime is to remove the package from the front porch as soon as possible by having it picked up or delivered elsewhere if a resident is not typically home during the day.

Capt. T. Ringley  

The Federal Trade Commission lists other recommendations to help prevent this increasingly common crime. 

Require a signature. When your shopping cart is full and it’s time to choose your shipping details, take a moment to check “signature required.” A contact-free way to sign may be available through major package delivery services. You can request delivery confirmations, too.

Give specific delivery instructions. Many shippers will let you specify where to leave packages — maybe in your backyard, or even redirecting them to a trusted neighbor’s address, if you won’t be home.

Install motion activated lights.  Outdoor lights with a motion sensor might make your home a lot less attractive to would-be thieves, making them much more visible than they’d likely want to be.