Safety & Security Topics
How a Security Camera and Home Security Can Protect Your Home From Package Theft
• 5 Mins read
Online shopping has reached an all-time high thanks, in part, to companies like Amazon that have revolutionized how online shopping works. Amazon Prime and similar services promise to get your items to your doorstep in as little as two days. For many people with busy schedules, the ability to purchase and receive items without having to spend time going to the store is worth paying a premium for. There's never been an easier time to find any product, no matter how specific or far away it may be, and have it left on your doorstep without even having to leave the house. With the good comes the bad though, and with a rise in product ordering there has been a growth in package theft.
The Huffington Post reports that some 23 million homeowners had packages stolen from them in 2016. Experts expect this number to rise along with the popularity of online shopping. Some people even make a career out of package theft. In one Baltimore case, police picked up two package thieves with more than 75 stolen packages. Youtube is full of video clips showing thieves stealing packages, and thieves getting caught as well. In most cases, they don't even know what they're stealing. They simply take whatever they find and hope for something good, discarding what they don’t want or find valuable.
How a Security Camera and Home Security System Work to Protect You
Package theft is clearly a huge problem, but what can you do to protect yourself? Police and security experts agree that the chances of you being targeted can be greatly reduced by taking simple steps. Instructing your delivery person to leave packages in an area that hides the package is one low-cost option, but it’s still not perfect as the package is left exposed and unwatched. One solution that’s roundly agreed upon as a “best of both worlds” option is to install doorstep or package security cameras at your front door or package drop of area. Scout’s new 1080p HD Security Camera is a great option when considering this line of defense. The camera allows you to monitor your front door with your smartphone, even when you're not home, and can send alerts and record clips of any detected motion. In some cases, security cameras deter people from targeting your house in the first place and other times, they capture footage that can be helpful in catching the thief.
Investing in a home security system can protect your home from more than just criminal activity as well. For example, Scout offers or integrates with different DIY security smart devices that can protect your home from break-ins and notify you in the event of a fire, carbon monoxide or flood problem. Having a security system makes it easy to be mindful of your home's security from A to Z.
Online Retailers Are Becoming Proactive Against Package Thieves
Beyond a home security system, some online retailers such as Amazon are leading the charge against package thieves. But this comes at a cost. The Amazon Key service, for instance, intends to deter thieves by adding a security keypad onto your front door. The delivery person then uses a a one-time-use code to unlock your front door and place the package inside, safe from package thieves. Since this security pad keeps track of when the one-time code is used, you know who was in your house and if something goes wrong. While an admirable and progressive idea, many people are still not comfortable granting access to their home even to their well known delivery person.
While Amazon Key sounds like the perfect solution, there are a few drawbacks. For example, it doesn't help for packages that are delivered by other services such as UPS, USPS and FedEx. Likewise, you have to have the key pad installed on your door, which requires special installation. Lastly, Amazon doesn't offer this service in every city yet. Unless you live in a specific area, Amazon Key isn't even an option to protect yourself against package thieves.
Give Yourself Some Peace of Mind
Having packages stolen from your doorstep is more than an inconvenience. It's an invasion of privacy that can leave you feeling vulnerable and violated. Investing in a home security system might be the best way to protect your packages without breaking the bank to do so. Peace of mind knowing you can monitor your home when your away is extremely valuable. Having the option to monitor your front door from your smartphone at any time is a service that can protect you well beyond deterring package thieves. Imagine being able to see who's ringing your doorbell without ever having to open the door. A security camera is a good investment whether or not you do a lot of online shopping. Scout’s new 1080p HD indoor security camera is a perfect option as it can easily be placed in a discreet location that monitors your home’s entrances. If you already have Nest cameras, indoor or outdoor, Scout integrates seamlessly with Nest’s full product suite, providing you with greater choice and customization options to meet your security needs. At the end of the day, installing a home security system with a camera that protects your home from package theft could easily become the best investment you’ve ever made before you actually needed it.
