Stop Holiday Package Theft With These 6 Smart Home Devices
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These gadgets will help you keep an eye on your porch, even when you aren’t home.
Megan Wollerton Senior Writer/Editor
Megan Wollerton covers renewable energy, climate change and other environmental topics for CNET. Before starting at CNET in 2013, she wrote for NBC Universal’s DVICE (now SYFY).
Megan has a master’s degree from the University of Louisville and a bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College, both in international relations. She is a board member of the Louisville chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. When Megan isn’t writing, she’s planning far-flung adventures.
Expertise Science, Home Credentials Society of Professional Journalists 2022 Louisville Metro Journalism Award for Feature Writing, Society of Professional Journalists 2022 Ohio Journalism Award for Science Writing
David Priest Editor
David Priest is an award-winning writer and editor who covers home security for CNET.
When he isn’t waving his hands wildly in front of motion sensors or making faces at video doorbells, he spends his time playing board games and video games with his wife and family.
Don’t let your holiday deliveries get stolen by porch pirates.
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We’re in prime holiday shopping season, which means one thing: tons of packages arriving on your doorstep. That also makes it a popular time for porch pirates to swipe unprotected packages and head off with your gifts.
This year, 64% of people say they plan to do all or most of their holiday shopping online, according to a recent survey. The same survey found that 26% of Americans have had a package stolen from their doorstep.
Many of these thefts are not reported to law enforcement, according to the US Postal Inspection Service. Fortunately, there are several smart home devices on that market that allow you to monitor deliveries from your phone. Read on to find out what products and services will help you keep a virtual eye on your holiday packages, no matter where you are.