GREENSBORO, N.C. — Several people are reporting that a "porch pirate" is targeting their Greensboro neighborhood. Some of the crimes were caught on camera.
Residents in The Pines neighborhood off Randleman Road say they've experienced seven thefts in the past two weeks. Some of the stolen packages contained phones and iPads. Neighbors in the area say they've received delivery notifications only to return home to find their front porches empty.
Danielle and Roy Jackson reported that the porch pirate took an $800 phone right from their front steps just 13 minutes after a FedEx driver dropped it off. It being stolen so quickly has Danielle worried.
"What struck me as odd was that the FedEx notification message included the mobile carrier's name. If someone were able to breach the FedEx system, they could see this delivery message and realize that it's a cell phone being delivered. That’s our concern," Danielle said.
Roy said hearing about it happening in their neighborhood is one thing but having it happen to them is a whole different feeling.
"It was kind of strange because you hear about it happening in other areas and then when it happens to you, it feels like a violation," Roy said. "Seeing it on camera makes it even worse. Now everyone in the neighborhood feels like they need to get a security camera."
Police told WFMY they received a report regarding possible porch piracy in the area. However, neighbors count at least seven thefts in the past two weeks.
So, what can you do to avoid becoming the next victim? Here are a few options:
- Require a signature for expensive items. This way, you can ensure that a high-value package isn’t left sitting on your porch where it’s vulnerable to theft.
- Install home security cameras. A thief might think twice about stealing if they know they're being recorded. If a theft does occur, you can file a police report and provide the video evidence.
- Customize delivery options. Ask for your packages to be dropped off in a less visible location, like behind a plant or bush, to make them harder to spot from the road.
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