Simple steps to reduce the risk of theft
The holiday season brings an increase in package deliveries β and unfortunately, an increase in package theft. While porch theft isnβt always preventable, there are simple, practical steps you can take to significantly reduce your risk.
As private investigators, we see patterns behind most thefts. The goal isnβt to create anxiety, itβs to help you avoid becoming an easy target.
1. Control Where Packages Are Left
” (after the three intro paragraphs). –>From the investigators at RMEE
Rocky Mountain Eagle Eye is a professional private investigation firm in Golden, Colorado, and most of what we know about porch theft comes from the same place our other work does: documenting patterns. Police departments along the Front Range have to prioritize by severity, so a single stolen package usually gets a report number and little else. That is not a criticism of police; it is a resource reality, and it is exactly the gap a private investigator exists to fill.
When theft is repeated, on a street, at an apartment complex, or at a small business, we treat it the way we treat any surveillance investigation: define the window, document activity with time-stamped photo and video, capture vehicle descriptions and license plates, and build a timeline that can be handed to police, an HOA, a property manager, or an insurer. We can also preserve doorbell-camera, phone, and cloud footage through digital forensics so it is intact if it is ever needed as evidence. Our investigators come from law enforcement and public-safety backgrounds, and everything is produced to chain-of-custody standards.
The tips below are the prevention side. The section near the end on documenting a theft is the part most people skip, and it is the part that determines whether anything can be done afterward.
1. Control Where Packages Are Left
Whenever possible:
- Require signatures for high-value deliveries
- Redirect packages to a secure pickup location
- Use delivery lockers or hold-at-location options
Most thefts happen because packages are left unattended and visible.
2. Vary Delivery Locations
If you live in a high-traffic area:
- Deliver packages to a side door or rear entrance
- Ask a neighbor to accept packages
- Use workplace delivery when appropriate
Consistency creates patterns, and patterns attract theft.
3. Be Strategic With Tracking Alerts
Turn on:
- Delivery notifications
- Real-time tracking
- βOut for deliveryβ alerts
The shorter the window a package sits outside, the lower the risk.
4. Make Your Home Look Occupied
Porch thieves often look for signs no one is home.
Simple deterrents:
- Timed lights
- Visible vehicles
- Smart doorbell cameras (even if they donβt record)
- Motion-activated lighting
You don’t need expensive security, just visible awareness.
5. Donβt Advertise Deliveries Online
Posting delivery confirmations, unboxing videos, or photos of packages in real time can unintentionally signal opportunity.
If you post at all, wait until items are safely inside.
6. Document Theft Immediately
If a package goes missing:
- Save delivery confirmation and timestamps
- Capture camera footage if available
- File a police report when appropriate
- Notify the carrier promptly
Documentation helps establish patterns and supports replacement claims.
7. Build a Record That Actually Gets Used
Saving a screenshot is a start, but a report that police, a carrier, or an insurer can act on needs a bit more structure. This is the same approach we use when a client asks us to document repeat theft, scaled down to what you can do yourself.
Capture the “who, what, when, where” while it is fresh
- When: the carrier’s delivery timestamp and the time you discovered the package missing. The gap between them is the window investigators care about.
- Where: the exact spot the package was left (the carrier’s photo proof of delivery usually shows this). Note whether it was visible from the street.
- What: tracking number, retailer, order number, item description, and value with a copy of the receipt. Value matters because it determines how a theft is classified and what an insurer will pay.
- Who: any person or vehicle in your footage, a neighbor’s footage, or your own observation. Write down what you can describe (clothing, direction of travel, vehicle color and body style, any part of a plate) without guessing at what you did not see.
Preserve footage before it disappears
Most doorbell and security cameras keep cloud clips for a limited time, and some subscription tiers keep nothing at all. Download the original clip to a device you control the same day, keep the original file rather than a screen recording, and note the camera’s clock offset if it is not synced. Ask neighbors to do the same, since the useful shot is often from across the street. If footage has already rolled off or a device was damaged, that is where professional digital evidence recovery comes in.
Report to the right places, in the right order
- Carrier and retailer first. Most replacement and refund decisions happen here and are time-limited.
- Local police (non-emergency line). Even when no one will investigate a single theft, a report number is what your insurer will ask for, and repeat reports from one address or block are what move a case up the priority list.
- Homeowners or renters insurance. Check your deductible first; many single-package losses fall under it. Keep the report number, receipts, and footage together.
- Your HOA or property manager. They can change lighting, locker access, or camera placement, and they usually know whether other units have been hit.
When it keeps happening
Three or more incidents at the same address, or a cluster on one street, is a pattern, not bad luck. That is the point at which a short, focused surveillance engagement or a review of the existing footage can identify a vehicle or a routine, and turn a pile of individual reports into something police or a property manager can act on. Our guide to private investigators vs. police explains where that line sits, and our cost guide explains what a limited engagement typically involves.
A Note From an Investigator
Most porch theft is opportunistic, not targeted. Thieves look for convenience, not confrontation. Removing opportunity is often enough to prevent it.
Need Help Documenting Repeated Theft?
If youβre experiencing ongoing package theft or suspicious activity, Rocky Mountain Eagle Eye can assist with documentation, pattern analysis, and next-step guidance.
Contact us for a free consultation:
π Phone: 303-381-4585
π§ Email: [email protected]
π Office: 18475 W Colfax Ave Ste 132, Golden, CO 80401
π Schedule Online: Request Free Consultation
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