Online holiday shopping is expected to soar this year, and authorities fear a similar rise in “porch piracy.”
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office says the seasonal threat will represent a bigger problem due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a release, the sheriff’s office says masks are now commonplace so would-be thieves no longer attract scrutiny by covering their faces.
Sheriff Dave Wedding urges residents to defend against porch pirates by bringing in packages as quickly as possible, sign up for text-based delivery notifications through your online retailer, ask a neighbor to bring your packages inside if you’re not home, and consider deterrent options like a front porch Package Locker or a Video Doorbell.
The Sheriff's Office says with a few precautions, pirates can be stopped from stealing your holiday treasures.
More: If packages are stolen from your porch, call 911.