Increase In Princeton Thefts, Burglaries Over Last Few Weeks: Police

PRINCETON, NJ - Reported thefts and burglaries have increased in Princeton within the last few weeks, police said in a statement this week. The police department is now urging residents to take precautions during the holiday season in order to avoid becoming the next victim.

“Continue to secure your delivered packages as soon as possible, lock your doors (vehicle and residence), and arm any home alarm systems,” police said in the Tuesday statement via social media. “Please look out for your neighbors and if you see any suspicious activity, contact our department immediately.”

Princeton police can be reached at (609) 921-2100.

Though the nature of the Princeton thefts wasn’t immediately made clear, growing e-commerce sales are increasing porch thefts nationwide. About 90 percent of respondents to a survey of 2,600 Americans by the Chicago-based C+R Research firm said they receive a package at least once a month, and 55 percent said they receive packages weekly. Read more: Porch Pirates Find Opportunity As Holiday Package Deliveries Ramp Up

Another survey, by the home safety website SafeWise.com and home security provider Vivant, found that more than 260 million packages were stolen from November 2021 to November 2022, costing Americans about $19.5 billion — about $59 per person.

The 2022 SafeWise/Vivant survey found that 3 in 4 Americans have been a victim of package theft in their lifetime; 79 percent have had their packages stolen in the last 12 months, an increase of 15 percentage points from 2021; more than half of porch pirate victims have had multiple packages stolen in the last 12 months; and 40 percent of all packages stolen are valued between $50 and $100.

Here are five tips personal finance comparison website Finder shared to help Americans keep from becoming a victim of a package theft:

• Try curbside pickup: Drive to the store; most of them offer curbside pickup options.
• Use a post office box: This will ensure the package is handled by a professional at the post office.
• Video surveillance: Doorbell cameras such as Ring can allow homeowners to scare away the thief in real time.
• Require a signature: This way, the package cannot go unattended.
• Have it sent to your workplace: Public places typically have a greater chance of using security cameras.

Related: 5 Ways To Stop Porch Pirates In New Jersey

A request for additional comment from Princeton police was not immediately returned.