How Franklin Can Avoid Porch Pirates And Package Thefts

FRANKLIN, WI — Once again, a growing number of shoppers in Franklin will turn to computers and smartphones to check gifts off their shopping lists this holiday season.

Experts project holiday e-commerce sales in the United States will reach a record $207 billion between November and December, a 10 percent increase over 2020 sales, according to data from Adobe Analytics.

Yet as online sales increase, consumers in Franklin and across the country are almost sure to see an uptick in packages disappearing from front porches.

Nationwide, as online shopping spiked during the pandemic, the number of U.S. consumers who reported having a package stolen rose from 36 percent in 2019 to 43 percent in 2020, according to a report by Chicago-based C+R Research. Among 2020’s victims, nearly two-thirds said they had been a victim of package theft more than once.

According to C+R’s report, on average, the value of a stolen package in 2020 was $136; however, 81 percent say they received a refund on the stolen items.

Still, as package thieves — or “porch pirates” — become more clever, consumers need to be one step ahead when it comes to preventing package theft.

Franklin Police Officer Gary Wallace told Patch package thefts have been a problem in Franklin in the past. This holiday season, police are hoping incidents of the crime will be rare. Officer Wallace said package thieves can be quite shy, so making use of a camera can help prevent yourself from becoming a package theft victim.

About 35.5 million Americans say they’ve been the victim of package theft in the past 12 months, according to the most recent data by Finder.com. As a result, consumers lost about $5.4 billion in merchandise.

Who Steals A Package?

FInder’s study revealed that men are more likely to be both package thieves and victims of the crime. About 5 percent of men admitted stealing a package compared with 0.85 percent of women.

Meanwhile, 17 percent of men had a package stolen in the past year, compared with 11 percent of women.

The Franklin Police Department put together a list of ways people can protect themselves from would-be package thieves:

• Be at home when your package is dropped off. Schedule deliveries for a time you know someone will be at home to accept the package.
• Require a signature for packages.
• Have exterior cameras or doorbell cameras notify you of deliveries and trespassers.
• Use your lunch break to accept packages.
• Have deliveries made to your workplace, if possible.
• Have the post office hold your mail for a pickup. Use an Amazon Hub locker.
• Use the ship to store option when available.
• Consider using devices that can accept deliveries and secure them in a locked box or notify the resident that a delivery was made.

The Franklin Police Department Patrol Division will be stepping up efforts to patrol Franklin neighborhoods during the holiday season to prevent crimes such as porch piracy, the department announced via Facebook in November.

The department said anyone who sees something suspicious can contact the Franklin dispatch center at 414-425-2522 with suspect and vehicle information.

Prevention Tips

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

• Try curbside pickup: Drive to the store; most offer curbside pickup options.
• Use a post office box: This will ensure the package is handled by a professional at the Franklin 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.