Package Theft Prevention, How to Keep Your Gifts Safe This Holiday Season

The holiday season is upon us.

While you're buying your gifts online, you may want to take some precautions as your package finally gets delivered.

Porch Pirate Stats Across the Nation

Guardian Protection defines a Porch Pirate as "a person who steals packages left by delivery services on a person's porch or doorstep."

They call it a crime of opportunity, and there has been a spike in Porch Pirate activity after the boom of online shopping.

According to SafeWise.com, in 2025 104 million packages were taken from porches across the U.S. in the last year. While that number may seem daunting, their data shows that package theft is on the decline.

Their research shows that New York City is one of the worst cities for package theft with a total value loss of $248,221,997.

Local authorities here in the Hudson Valley are hoping to prevent package theft during this holiday season.

Keeping Your Packages Safe in the Hudson Valley

The East Fishkill Police Department has released a few tips how to keep your packages safe this holiday season.

They write on Facebook "As the holiday shopping season has officially begun, we typically see an increase in package deliveries - and unfortunately, the potential increase in package thefts."

They add:

As always if you see something suspicious, call your local authorities.

Shopping Scams To Be on The Lookout For in 2025

Ahead of the big shopping season, the New York State Sheriff's Association was warning shoppers of scams to be on the lookout for.

They explain keeping an eye out for  fake deal websites and social-media ads.

Additionally, they add to look out for these manipulations online while shopping:

*Huge discounts on hot items from a site you’ve never heard of
*Web addresses that look almost like real brands
*No reviews, no contact info, no clear return policy

The New York State Sheriff's Association states "If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is."