Neighbor News
Northville Township Police Hosts Program to Foil Porch Pirates
Operation Max's Vault is a free program that allows residents who online shop to ship their gifts to the Police Department to reduce theft.
Porch pirates have found their nemesis. Northville Township Police Department will offer Operation Max’s Vault again for the second straight holiday season.
The free program, named after the Department’s therapy dog, allows residents who online shop to send their purchases to the Police Department instead of their home address between Nov. 1-Jan.1, 2025. This reduces the opportunity for theft.
In November and December 2023, Northville Township Police reported nine incidents of mail or package theft, while the broader Oakland, Western Wayne, and Washtenaw areas recorded 81 incidents. Package theft is on the rise nationwide; according to a 2023 survey by SafeWise, an estimated 119 million packages were stolen across the U.S. in the past year. The survey also found that 65% of respondents are more concerned about package theft than in previous years, reflecting a growing worry as holiday shopping and deliveries increase. That’s where Operation Max’s Vault comes in.
Find out what's happening in Northvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
This temporary package storage solution permits purchases under 50 pounds to be sent to the Police Department in care of Max’s Vault. The parcels are stored in a secured area. The package owner must pick up the delivery within five days of its arrival. In 2023, the Police Department logged 31 uses of Operation Max’s Vault.
Of course there are some safety rules. The deliveries cannot contain hazardous materials, flammable liquids, illegal contraband, live animals, weapons or ammunition.
Find out what's happening in Northvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
To ship a package, use the following addressee format:
[Recipient Name]
c/o Max’s Vault
41600 Six Mile Road
Northville, MI 48168
Any unclaimed packages after Jan. 1, 2025, will be held at the Police Department for one week and attempts will be made to contact the owner. If the resident doesn’t respond, the packages will be returned to the sender.
Operation Max’s Vault demonstrates how innovative and pro-active the Township Police Department is with its robust series of crime prevention programs, including Operation Max’s Vault. Northville Township residents are safer when they follow best practices during the busy holiday season.
