The Porch Piracy Problem Is Getting Worse
About 79 million Americans had at least one package stolen in 2025 according to Security.org research. The average loss per incident is around $112. If you order regularly, it is not a question of if but when.
The frustrating part is that most porch theft is opportunistic. Someone walks by, sees a box, grabs it. They are not casing your house. They are just taking the easy score. That means the solutions do not need to be complicated. They just need to make your porch slightly harder than the next one.
Video Doorbells: Deterrence Plus Evidence
A visible video doorbell is the single most effective deterrent for casual package theft. The Ring Video Doorbell and eufy Video Doorbell are the two most popular options, and both work well for this specific purpose.
Here is what matters for catching package thieves specifically: night vision quality (most deliveries happen in the afternoon, but theft often happens after dark), field of view wide enough to see someone approaching from the side, and fast notification speed so you can yell through the speaker if you are home.
The Ring Doorbell 4 and eufy Dual Camera Doorbell both score well on night face detection. The eufy has the advantage of local storage. The Ring has faster cloud-based notifications in most setups.
Package Lockboxes: Simple, Cheap, Effective
A package lockbox sits on your porch. The delivery driver opens it, drops the package in, and it locks behind them. You unlock it with a code or key when you get home.
The Yale Smart Delivery Box and the Bench Sentry lockboxes are the most popular options. Prices range from $60 to $200 depending on size. For most households, a $75 to $100 option handles everything up to a medium Amazon box.
The downside: delivery drivers do not always use them. You may need to add a delivery instruction note and it takes a few deliveries before your regular drivers get the habit. But once they do, it works extremely well.
Smart Garage Delivery: Surprisingly Good
Amazon Key for Garage and myQ integration let delivery drivers open your garage door just enough to slide a package inside. The door closes automatically after a set time. You get a notification with a photo confirmation.
This sounds sketchy until you try it. The access is one-time, monitored by camera, and the driver never enters the garage. They slide the package in from outside. For Amazon orders specifically, this is one of the most reliable anti-theft options available.
You need a compatible smart garage opener. The Chamberlain myQ works with most existing openers and costs about $30. If your garage is attached to your house, you may also want a camera inside the garage pointed at the door for your own peace of mind.
Package Lockers and Pickup Points
Amazon Hub Lockers, UPS Access Points, and FedEx Hold at Location let you skip porch delivery entirely. The package goes to a secure locker at a nearby store and you pick it up at your convenience.
This is the most theft-proof option by far. The trade-off is convenience. You have to drive somewhere to get your stuff. For high-value items, it is absolutely worth it. For everyday orders, most people do not want the extra trip.
What Does Not Work as Well as People Think
- Fake security signs without an actual camera. Thieves have learned to ignore them.
- Hidden cameras with no visible deterrent. You get great footage of the theft and still lose the package.
- Requiring signatures. Most carriers will just skip the delivery and leave a notice instead.
- Leaving instructions to hide packages behind a planter. Thieves check behind the planter too.
The Practical Package Theft Prevention Stack
Here is what I recommend for most households, ranked by impact.
- Step 1: Visible video doorbell with night vision ($50 to $150)
- Step 2: Package lockbox on the porch ($75 to $150)
- Step 3: Smart garage delivery for Amazon orders ($30 for myQ)
- Step 4: Locker pickup for anything over $100 (free)
- Step 5: A secondary camera covering the driveway approach ($40 to $80)