Holiday Package Theft Prevention Tips From Morristown Police

MORRISTOWN, 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 Cyber Monday deliveries begin to arrive.

The Morristown 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:

• Request a signature: This way, the package cannot go unattended.
• Ask family members or trusted neighbors to accept deliveries on your behalf or to pick up your packages for you.
• 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.
• Request that your package be placed in a less conspicuous spot, such as behind a planter or garbage can.
• Report all stolen packages. If your package is stolen, contact the shipper and then follow up by reporting the stolen package to the police.

"Ok Morristown, we're officially heading into the holiday season. While you may be thinking of food, drink, friends, and family, there are others out there who are thinking of stealing your gifts from right off your front porch…Let's not give potential thieves our gifts," police said.

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.

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