Porch pirate steals Christmas shoes from Rock Hill home; Theft prevention tips
As Christmas fast approaches amid holiday gift delivery time, so have thefts of home-delivered items, officials say.
In Rock Hill Sunday, a woman on Parkmont Lane reported to police that two pairs of shoes -- a pair of Nike Air Max shoes and another pair of Puma sneakers -- that were delivered had been stolen from her porch. The total cost of the shoes was close to $200, a police incident report shows.
Rock Hill forensic teams did recover one of the shoe boxes, which was taken as evidence officers said. But the porch theft is the third in Rock Hill this holiday season, officers said.
The theft of packages in recent years led to creation of a name for the thieves: “porch pirates.”
Online purchasing and shipping has changed how people shop for the holidays. A report from the Pew research center states that as many as eight out of 10 Americans shop online and have packages delivered. Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world, according to the organization’s web site.
USA Today reported as many as 30 percent of online shoppers have been victims.
Just last week, a pastor in North Carolina reported 24 Bibles were stolen from his porch, the Charlotte Observer reported.
“We want people to be able to protect their valuables and property,” said Lt. Michael Chavis of the Rock Hill Police Department. “We don’t want anyone to be a victim.”
It is always safer to have packages delivered to a place where a signature is required, have valuables delivered to a locker, or to any physical location where delivery to a person can be ensured, Chavis said.
Having someone home to look for the delivery also is better than having a package left unattended, Chavis said.
If a package is stolen, Chavis said a victim should always call the police and have a report filed. The theft can both be investigated by law enforcement and documented for consumer protection, Chavis said.
Rural homes also can be targeted, said Max Dorsey, Chester County Sheriff. Customers should always get a package tracking number, Dorsey said.
“Customers need to know when their packages are delivered, and make arrangements with a friend or neighbor to pick up the package if the customer is not home,” Dorsey said. “This will reduce the amount of time the package stays on the porch, making it less vulnerable to theft.”
The Web site Safety.com also suggests video doorbells, security cameras, or lockboxes for packages.
