Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) is offering tips to residents to combat “porch pirates” who see an increase in online shopping and package deliveries around the winter holidays.
Nessel outlined several steps Michiganders can take to prevent package theft as part of his office's ongoing holiday fraud campaign.
He urged consumers to send packages to safer locations, such as FedEx offices, Amazon lockers or, if possible, mailboxes at work. Nessel advised residents to keep their porches well-lit and consider purchasing motion-sensing lights.
In addition to improved lighting, the state attorney general suggested Michiganders purchase motion detectors and porch cameras to better track deliveries. Another way to ensure your package is safe is to use tactics like playing music or turning on lights inside to make it look like someone is home even when you are not. .
“Unattended deliveries, whether it's packages or mail, are easy targets for porch pirates,” Nessel said. said in a press release on Wednesday.. “By planning ahead and taking security precautions, you can ensure that well-deserved gifts and packages arrive safely while preventing thieves from stealing your holiday fun.”
First-time offenders who commit package or mail theft can be sentenced to up to one year in prison, while repeat offenders can be sentenced to up to five years in prison, his office said.
His office advises consumers to use the U.S. Postal Service's free “Informed Delivery” tool, which allows buyers to track packages, reschedule deliveries, and preview incoming mail. I advised him to do so.
SafeWise's annual study found that 120.5 million packages were stolen from American front doors last year, with New York City topping the list of worst cities, with an estimated loss of $945 million in 2023.
