'Tis the season for deliveries, and porch piracy, but you can protect yourself
Many Canadians have packages delivered to their homes on a daily basis. Online shopping has become a popular trend, especially during the holidays. But unfortunately, so has porch piracy -- thieves stealing your packages right from your front door.
But what if that stolen package is not replaceable?
That’s what happened to Megan Greeley of London, Ont. She was expecting a package from her family in the United States. But when it arrived in the afternoon while she was at work, a couple of porch pirates snapped it up.
The theft was captured on Greeley’s doorbell camera.
“I feel very sad -- and it’s stuff that can’t be replaced,” said Greeley.
The package contained special, personalized birthday and Christmas gifts for Greeley and her partner.
“They were handmade by my sister herself, and there were crafts in there from my nephews and niece -- I haven’t seen my sister in two years, and that’s our way to stay connected,” said Greeley.
Many homeowners have installed video doorbells, and while the thefts are caught on surveillance, technology expert Marc Saltzman says they do little to actually stop the packages from being stolen
“Obviously it’s not going to stop a would-be thief in their tracks, but hopefully it will act as a deterrent -- if you see it right there -- and then of course you have video evidence of someone lifting your package."
Saltzman says there are other ways to protect your packages from being stolen.
“Consider a personal mailbox like a lockbox for your porch -- if you order a lot online and you aren’t home a lot, that’s a good idea,” adds Saltzman.
Danby, a company from Guelph, Ont., has created a product called Parcel Guard which sells for about $500.
It can keep packages secure from theft and bad weather and can notify the homeowner through an app when a package is delivered.
Greeley says she’ll consider getting a lockbox, but in the meantime she’s reported the theft to police -- and posted the video surveillance on social media, hoping someone can identify the thieves.
“I am disappointed in the members of the community -- I feel sorry that people have to resort to stealing packages off people’s porch,” said Greeley.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.