More than 35% of American homeowners have lost a package to porch pirates at least once, with the rate of package theft soaring between Thanksgiving and New Year’s day, as reported by the CBNC News Website. As you celebrate the winter holidays, chances are high that you will receive gifts from your loved ones, and you will have to protect them from theft and vandalism. This is even more essential if you have to be away on vacation or work and will be unavailable to receive the gifts.
Here are five practical tips to help you protect your holiday gifts.
1. Install a Home Security System
According to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), burglary represents more than 18% of property crimes, and burglars are 300% more likely to invade homes that don’t have security systems. With this in mind, you should install home security systems including, among others, motion sensors, cameras, and an alarm system. This way, your gifts will be safer on the porch even when you’re not around. Additionally, a home security system will alert you to take the necessary action in case someone tries to tamper with your gifts.
2. Have Someone Receive and Store Your Packages for You
If you will not be at home to receive the gifts, you should request a trustworthy neighbor to receive and store your packages for you until you return. Alternatively, you can hire a package receiving service to pick your gift and store them safely. Either way, you’ll be able to protect your holiday gifts from thieves and vandals.
3. Have the Gifts Delivered to Your Workplace
Every winter holiday, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) delivers at least 20 million packages per day to thousands of addresses in the U.S. This means they won’t have a problem delivering your gifts at work. This will be way safer than having them sent to your residence while there’s no one to receive them.
4. Sign for Your Packages
Most courier services offer a variety of Signature Confirmation options that you can use to protect your holiday gifts from porch pirates. This option ensures an adult, which could be either you or a preferred neighbor, is available to receive your package upon delivery, and therefore, keep porch pirates and vandals at bay. Remember that this is an optional feature, so ensure you check off the “signature required” box when giving your shipping details, as recommended by the United Parcel Service (UPS).
5. Request the Courier Company to Hold Your Package
Instead of letting the courier company deliver a package to an unoccupied home, you can ask them to place it on hold until you return. Most shipping companies offer this service at a fee, and it may be a perfect option to protect your gifts from porch pirates.
Use these five tips to protect your gifts from porch pirates and vandals this holiday season. Additionally, buy the right homeowners insurance. Contact the experts at Gant Insurance Agency in McKinney, Texas, for all your home insurance needs. We can help you choose the best homeowners insurance policy for your needs.
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