Holiday Package Theft Prevention Tips From Madison Police

MADISON, NJ — Whether you're in the holiday spirit or not, now is the ideal time for porch pirates to steal unprotected packages off doorsteps as deliveries begin to arrive ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

The Madison Police Department has asked residents to be on the watch for “porch pirates” — thieves who steal packages right off doorsteps.

Around 79 percent of Americans have been a victim of package theft throughout the United States in 2022, the security company SafeWise reported earlier this year.

Locally, police say package thefts can be a tricky crime to catch and report. The police have shared some suggestions to protect against theft:

• Install a home security camera and smart lights. Security cameras are useful because they can record video that you can share with the police. Smart lights are also an excellent deterrent, and they are simple to use.
• Require a signature: This way, the package cannot go unattended.
• Use a post office box: This will ensure the package is handled by a professional at the post office.
• Ask family members or trusted neighbors to accept deliveries on your behalf or to pick up your packages for you.
• Report all stolen packages. If your package is stolen, contact the shipper and then follow up by reporting the stolen package to the police.

A New Jersey porch pirate can now face three to five years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both for package snatching. Package theft was previously "graded as low as a disorderly persons offense to as high as a crime of the second degree," according to a Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee statement on the legislation.

To keep your deliveries safe from porch pirates, Madison police are urging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity in their neighborhood.