What to do about "porch pirates"?

I just read that stealing packages from people's doorsteps is the newest crime wave. Apparently, the police can't do anything about it so there's no point in calling the police and reporting it if you've had a package stolen.

One guy in Australia made a dummy package that made a very loud sound and emitted smoke when it was picked up. He caught the reaction of the would be thief on camera and found it fun to watch plus the police were able to use the camera's pictures to attempt to catch the thief. People warned him that he would be in trouble if a would be thief got hurt picking up the packages.

Apparently, he's not the only person to come up with proactive solutions to this problem.

Any ideas? Anyone here ever sabotaged a package to cause fright for a would be thief? Or...any other creative ideas for contending with porch pirates?

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DrWatson · 70-79, M

I while ago I read about this. I don't know whether it worked or whether it is still in use.

Some delivery service (I think Amazon) worked out a system where they would somehow be able to open the trunk of your car, which you leave parked on your driveway, put the package in the trunk and then close and lock it.

Don't ask me for details about how that would work, because I do not know.

twiigss · M

@DrWatson I know there's some Amazon thing where you have a special lock on your front door, and an Amazon driver has a one-time use key to be able to enter your home and deliver your package. That's not something I trust at all. What if the Amazon driver has a bad day? What if they lied on their application and they're a thief?

You just don't know with something like that and I can't take any risks, letting a stranger into my home just to deliver a single package.