‘Tis the season for Christmas cookies, corny Hallmark movies and… porch pirates? If your house is anything like mine, there are boxes showing up almost every day of the week, most of the time sitting on the porch until the workday is done. According to security.org, porch pirates steal billions of dollars worth of merchandise every year, with more than 50 million Americans falling victim. Here’s what you can do about it.
Install a camera (or two)
I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t on the doorbell-cam bandwagon early on, but now that I have one (and a few other cams), I’m surprised at how long it took me to get there. I like being able to check who is at my door from my desk, or on my phone when I’m away, and with the two-way talk feature, I can easily tell those annoying solicitors (who frequently ignore my “no soliciting” sign) to go away.
Sure, you can go a cheaper route and put up fake cameras to deter porch pirates and potential burglars, but with the price of the real thing these days, it’s hardly worth it.
Ring
The Ring doorbell is a crowd-pleasing option, with millions sold in the past decade. It normally costs $100, so you’re saving $40 — enough to buy another smart-home device (perhaps a couple of motion-sensor light bulbs), a second Ring camera (more about that later), or a few months’ head start on your Ring Protect Plan.
Amazon
There’s nothing like a blinding light and loud siren to scare off a bunch of would-be thieves. This light/camera combo features a motion sensor and a 105dB security siren, so you’ll definitely know when someone is skulking around the house. If you don’t want to bother with hard-wiring it yourself and have access to an outlet, you can also get this in a plug-in version for just $20 more.
Don’t want the blinding spotlight or siren? The Ring Spotlight Cam is $10 cheaper and offers two-way talk as well.
Amazon
Need some indoor surveillance too? With the ability to rotate 360 degrees, this’ll keep an eye on your living room as well as your porch.
Ring
Porch pirates aren’t known for being Einsteins, so if you want a cheap way to keep them away, this might very well be enough to do the trick.
Light up the night
There’s no reason for your house to sit dark while you’re away for the holidays. With smart plugs and bulbs, you can control your lighting from anywhere — all with a simple tap on your phone — and make it seem like you’re home all night.
Amazon
These are a personal favorite of mine, hitting that sweet spot when it comes to both price and features. They work with both Alexa and Google Home, and at less than $15 for a two-pack, they’re a lot more affordable than other bulbs out there.
Amazon
Not a fan of smart bulbs? These have built-in motion sensors — put them in your light fixtures to deter would-be thieves sans app.
Amazon
Even if you’re staying home for the holidays, keeping your walkways well-lit is a smart move for you and your guests. This 10-pack of waterproof, solar-powered pathway lights makes it easy — and pretty — while this markdown makes them less than $3 per light. That’s a steal.
Save $25 with coupon
Lock things up
Amazon
Gone are the days of leaving a spare key in one of those hideaway rocks (or worse, under the doormat) — the smart lock is here to stay. I love my keypad lock because I never have to worry about forgetting my keys; the added security it offers is another benefit. You can couple this deadbolt version with a keyed doorknob for additional security or even use two separate keypads with two separate codes.
Amazon
The easiest way to make sure your packages stay yours (other than being around to grab them as soon as they’re delivered) is to not have them sitting on your porch in the first place. This box is big enough to fit most deliveries and will keep your packages out of sight.
Amazon
Growing up my grandfather had a sliding door with a lock that had broken years before I was born. His solution? A broom handle he cut down to size wedged in the track. This is sort of like that only … nicer. It’s also adjustable, so it can be used on different-sized doors, and there is no wood-sawing necessary. Right now it’s 20% off.
