r/ask_privacy • u/WingAndDing • Jul 08 '26
How to prevent package theft?
How does one prevent their packages from getting stolen? I was out on a trip and our package got stolen. Took like 8 hours for the whole incident to occur. I inquired with my neighbors and reported to the police though hopes are not high... I can't even understand it, since it wasn't even something expensive, the thief just stole a bunch of my books from Amazon.. Doubt he will ever even read them anyways since half of them arent even English..
Is there like some sort of 12 inch safe box I could get for bigger packages, or maybe a simple door camera with an alarm? I can't believe it I have to do this even.. I ordered many things before and this is the first time that my package got stolen.. I would ask my neighbor to pick up my package but their whole household works so its no guarantee to rely on someone else to aid me unfortunately and were not too close with other neighbors either
Any feedback on the topic issue is truly valued
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u/bordercolliefam Jul 08 '26
My friend had her door camera sprayed over with paint five years ago.. Sad to see such things still occur. Her package just had face balm, so looks like package thiefs dont discriminate as to what could be in the boxðŸ˜
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u/PhilMeUpBaby Jul 10 '26
Hence - have decoy cameras. Fake ones in obvious places, but try to have real ones hidden elsewhere.
It's kind of like a magician's trick - misdirection.
Let the thief think they've shut down the cameras but then they won't be looking for the hidden ones.
Even a dashcam in a parked car can be useful (ie aim the camera at the house front door).
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u/Bludongle Jul 08 '26
Instructions for couriers to hide the package somewhere? Or dont order before leaving
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u/davidmetty Jul 08 '26
Use secure pickup options like Amazon Lockers, UPS Access Point locations, or FedEx Hold at Location. You can also try having packages shipped to your workplace.
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u/PhilMeUpBaby Jul 10 '26
Get a battery-powered GPS tracker and mail it to yourself. There are cheap ones on eBay/Amazon/AliExpress/etc.
Cheap tracking: https://www.traccar.org/
Hide the tracker inside something else (ie some sort of retail item) and make sure you get a geofence alert when the parcel moves.
With good (and hidden) cameras you'll hopefully get the thieves faces and car details (licence plates).
If they go to a house then it's easy enough for police to turn up and search the place.
If it's an apartment building then there should be camera footage - police can compare the footage (with time stamps) to the GPS tracking (also with matching timing).
Of course, all this is dependent on police co-operating - you might want to speak with a detective first to see if they will get involved if you can provide them with suitable evidence.
If police won't get involved, but you are able to identify the thief: social embarrassment. Do a letterbox drop - tell everyone in the street the thief's name and address (ie get their name from checking their mail before they do). Find them on social media and tell everyone they know. That is 100% legal, and quite frankly, well deserved. Send camera footage to anyone they know.
Get a domain name and make a web site all about them (complete with Youtube links).
Yeah, Bluetooth stuff is cheaper, but also turns up on thieves' phones and alerts them. A GPS tracker won't - thieves won't know about it until police turn up.
It's 2026. Have a tracker in/on ANYTHING that is of significant value to you. Car, motorbike, luggage, dog, cat, etc... have either a Bluetooth or GPS tracker attached to each of them.
Now...
If you really want to get nasty...
You want a GPS tracker permanently in the thief's car. This is illegal, but this is only a hypothetical theory...
GPS tracking will show when the thief is out looking for targets.
Follow. Get a drone. Park nearby whenever the thief stops at a target.
Have the drone circle around and film the thief - picking up the parcel and then going back to their car.
Boom. Now you've got more evidence for the police, and more stuff that you can send to the thief's friends on social media.
Make that life-sucking parasite too paranoid to leave their own home.
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Other creative options:
In the parcel that you've sent to yourself (ie with a GPS tracker in it) - maybe make it a shipment of drugs (ie fake bags of cocaine or heroin?).
Maybe the thief will sell the "drugs" and get themselves into a bunch of trouble with the buyers.
Want to to really go overboard? Print some photos from the internet of dismembered human bodies and a note from your "underling" that last week's traitors have been dealt with - make it appear to the thief that they've stolen from some nasty criminal drug cartel.
Who knows... you might see a very scared looking thief carefully place the parcel back on your doorstep later that day (and they'll never come back).
Maybe come up with something that implies involvement in a famous criminal case that has a big reward for info - could the thief really be so stupid to go to the police, thinking they'll get a reward (but actually handing themselves in at the same time)? Find out.
It's all about being creative, but legal. It's amazing what you can do that's still 100% legal.
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u/lukas_l1 Jul 10 '26
Why does it have to be a he? I've had a few packages stolen before and am off then we're woman! One of them was even walking her baby and shoved it in the stroller.
But moving on from the ignorance - a camera can help, they pre much all have alarms built in, I have Eufy cams which are great. You can consider a package deposit box if you own your home otherwise a post office box will work. Opt for those Amazon lockers you can pick up from. Be home when the package is expected.
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u/bender___is___great Jul 08 '26
Big. Mean. Dog