What to Do If Someone Steals Your Package or Mail

Regardless of the time of year or the package size, it’s always thrilling when you see a box has been delivered to your doorstep. Whether you’re eagerly awaiting a new household item you bought from Amazon, or perhaps you’re waiting for the Christmas gift you purchased for a loved one–either way, it’s always a thrilling experience. Or, even better, you’re waiting to receive a present that a loved one sent and, knowing the parcel is on its way, you’re eager to unwrap it. However, this moment of eagerness may quickly leave once you realize your package has been taken before you’ve even had the time to open it. Online shopping has increased rapidly in the past few years, and it’s now easier than ever to purchase what you need online and have it delivered to your doorstep.

For all kinds of occasions, people are now turning to Amazon for their needs, and they can receive their purchases quickly. But with the cost of these new fast and easy shipping options, we’ve also seen an increase in packages getting stolen. People are now finding that their packages are disappearing more than average and porch pirates are everywhere, stealing packages directly from people’s houses. This can be frustrating, and when it’s happened more than once, even the most patient of buyers will start to get annoyed.

If you’ve been experiencing this and are at a loss of what to do with porch pirates invading your home and stealing your packages directly from under your nose, look no further. For the victims of stolen packages we have good news because we have a list of actions you can take to retrieve your package, get refunds, and ultimately stop your packages from getting stolen.

 

Look at Security Camera Footage

If you have a security camera, it goes without saying that you first want to look at the footage on your smart home app or computer to see if there’s proof of the crime happening. If someone came and took your passage directly, it may show up on the camera, and you can tell who it is. These days technology is more advanced than ever, and many cameras will pick up when they see motion. Even better, many security cameras are smart enough to distinguish between your household members, the regular mailman, and someone looking around to steal your packages. It’s also note as well to make sure to have cameras that record continuously, even if your internet goes out.

 

If you have a motion-detecting camera you can hook it up to send push notifications to your mobile device, alerting you that there’s an intruder on your property. With the right applications installed on your mobile device, you can view your footage even if you’re away from home. For example, if you’re expecting a package at home and have to leave, you can check your security footage throughout the day to see if it’s been delivered. If you find footage of someone stealing your package or any suspicious activity, this can be used as evidence when you file your police report.

 

Talk To Your Neighbors

Although with the recent rise in stolen packages it’s easy to assume the package was stolen, that’s not always the case. Sometimes there are basic solutions to your problems, and one of these is simply that a package could have been delivered to the wrong house. There are often mix-ups with carriers, and it’s common for packages to be delivered to the wrong home, simply ending up at one of your neighbors. If you know your neighbors to feel comfortable enough, reach out and ask if they’ve had the wrong package delivered to their home. Even if they didn’t receive your package, they might at least have seen if your package was delivered or if there was any suspicious activity at your home while you were gone.

 

Contact Your Sender and Carrier

One of the easiest ways to find a package if it’s disappeared is by contacting the sender or carrier. If you don’t know if someone has stolen your parcel and you don’t have proof, but you know that the package has yet to arrive within the expected delivery window, then you can reach out to your sender. This way, you’ll at least be able to know for sure if it was delivered to your home and stolen or if there have been some delivery delays on their end. Once you know whether it’s an issue on your end or theirs, you can proceed accordingly, at least knowing that it’s accurate.

However, if it’s not an issue on the senders’ side and you see that it says that the package was delivered without the actual proof of it arriving, you can contact your carrier. Usually, you’ll have to file a report with the carrier company, but it differs depending on the shipping company. Typically they’ll want the tracking number and some other information before they can let you know details and accept that your package is missing. But, at the least, they’ll be able to give you more information about your package, and you can know whether or not they delivered it to your home.

 

Reach Out To Your Credit Card Company

If you purchased the package with a credit card, you can reach out to your credit card or insurance company. Depending on where you bought the item, you can get a replacement or refund through your credit card company. However, it is essential to remember that the policies differ for every credit card company, and some card companies only offer protection for damaged items, not missing ones. Other credit card companies provide package protection but only for larger items. However, it’s always worth reaching out to your credit card company and, at the very least, filing a claim since you never know for sure, and it’s worth checking.

 

The Best Protection Is Always Video Proof

The best result is always video proof whenever there’s a possibility of stolen packages. That’s why you must have the latest and greatest technology installed for your home. You’re more apt to get a refund or replacement or action taken with the police if you have video proof of your package getting taken, which is why you should use the latest technology. Start with taking the best protection against porch pirates with a security system.

 

True Protection offers customers various options to keep their homes (and their packages!) safe from intruders. Contact True Protection today to discover the smart home security systems and video surveillance options that will keep your packages and your home safe and sound. So have no worries about your packages, and know that your home is safe when you reach out to True Protection and get started exploring our various options. You can also reach out to us at one of our main Texas offices in either San Antonio, Austin, Dallas / Forth Worth, or Houston.