Christmas is just around the corner and millions of Americans are purchasing gifts online, but that is leaving them vulnerable to thieves.
Every year thousands of packages are stolen right off front stoops by porch pirates and Jason Cloudt with SEi Security solutions tells NewsRadio 1110 KFAB that there are ways to protect yourself. "They're simple, little devices that can replace the button that you have on your front door now. They have a camera built in. There's do it yourself devices that you can purchase from the stores or online and then there's professionally installed devices.
Cloudt says the doorbells can help identify criminals if they're lurking around your home. "They have great quality videos and you can get alerts on your phone so you know when UPS or FedEx is dropping off a package or if a criminal is ringing your doorbell to find out if you're home."
The doorbells vary in price, and Cloudt says they are worth the investment. "The do it yourself items can start under $100. The professionally installed video doorbells that we install are $250 to $350. So they're inexpensive for the value that they give."
If you're not interested in spending money on the technology, Omaha Police offer a few tips to protect yourself from thieves.
- Tell trusted neighbors to keep an eye out for packages if you will be gone.
- Have packages delivered to your work.
- Sign up for delivery alerts from the shipper so you have better idea of when the package will be delivered and can notify a family member or a friend to pick it up if you can't.
- If possible, require a signature for all your deliveries. If there's no one home to sign for the package, it won't be left at your home.
- Report stolen packages to the police so they are better idea of areas being targeted by thieves.