Recently, Edgewood residents have been affected by mail theft, or “porch pirates,” as online shopping has increased. Recent social media posts have made Edgewood’s complaints heard. Cases range from missing mail and wrong delivery addresses to suspicion of having packages stolen.
Mail or porch pirate refers to individuals who steal packages or mail left outside residences after delivery. According to C+R Research, it is estimated that 36% of Americans have had a stolen package at least once, and Edgewood is no exception.
This type of theft is typically considered a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the value of the stolen items and local laws. According to criminal defense attorneys, penalties can range from fines to imprisonment.
The Postal Service anticipates between 850 million and 950 million packages will be delivered for the holidays between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, without counting letters and cards, bringing that number to more than 12 billion, so taking preventive measures is a must.
Chief of Police Roger Jimenez explained recent cases and preventive measures. Although there is no exact figure, mail theft cases have grown recently, especially during the holiday season.
“These porch pirates have been known to do follow-ups on drivers, FedEx drivers, Amazon drivers, and wait for those packages to be delivered, and then wait for them to drive off and they go pick them up,” Jimenez said. “Report any suspicious activity or suspicious people in the neighborhood that they don’t know. Call us and we’ll go out and at least make contact with these people so we can identify them. Because if they do steal something later, and it is those people, then we already have their identity to file a bridge report.”
Chief Jimenez encouraged the Edgewood community to follow specific guidelines that can be of help.
To prevent porch piracy, ensure packages are delivered when someone is home or arrange for a neighbor to collect them if you’re unavailable. Packages left unattended for long periods are particularly vulnerable to theft.
If you notice unfamiliar or suspicious individuals in the neighborhood, report them to authorities. This allows police to identify and monitor potential suspects, which can aid in investigations if theft occurs.
To help protect mail and packages, citizens are also encouraged by USPS’s Strategic Communication Specialist to:
- Not leave anything unattended; packages ought to be collected from mailboxes and porches as fast as possible
- Holding mail is another alternative if the package cannot be collected on the set delivery date. Request Hold Mail is a service that helps hold letters and packages at a local post office.
- People expecting larger packages can also upgrade to a larger mailing box. New mailboxes have built-in locks built to a larger and broader capacity.
- Informed Delivery by USPS is also an option for tracking down en-route packages and seeing firsthand what mail is set to be delivered.
- If the package will not fit or can’t be received when delivered, delivery instructions can be set on the USPS website. The Smart Locker option is also good if available within the person’s area.
- The Hold for Pickup is another option customers can use when planning to ship a package.
- Special services such as signature confirmation or registered mail service help ensure the most secure delivery of valuable items that need to be handled with the most care and attention.
USPS also advises customers to report missing packages or suspicious activity to local police stations. An online complaint can also be submitted to the Postal Inspection Service or by calling 877-876-2455. The Postal Inspection Service is an agency that serves as the enforcement branch of the Postal Service that investigates mail theft cases.