Holidays are upon us. This is probably the best time for your local porch pirates who wait all year long to beat you to your Holiday packages. During this festive season, these thieves are more readily available than the Pokémon characters in our neighborhood. There are steps you can take to prevent these thieves from stealing Holiday packages from your porch.
It’s the gift-giving season, so these are valuable stuff, not just your normal paperback novels or embarrassing medical supplies. These can be electronic goods: e-readers and headphones, iPads, iPods, iPhones and Apple watches.
Related : Holiday Scam Alerts for Apple iFolks
Most ifolks that order gifts online via Amazon or Apple are usually waiting on the FedEx or UPS truck to deliver the packages.
The problem is that the thieves tend to track the time when the UPS trucks are in your neighborhood. Unlike your classic cat burglar (the guy with the striped shirt, watch cap and Zorro mask and a sack in which to put stolen candlesticks), porch pirates work in the daylight hours.
5 Tips to prevent Thieves From Stealing Holiday Packages Using Your iPhone/iPad
Tip – 1 Use ‘My Choice ‘ feature from UPS to customize delivery options. You can customize a large number of features using your iPhone and the app to schedule notifications, provide the UPS driver with detailed instructions as to where to leave your packages (At the back porch of the house, neighbor, etc). For a small fee, you can also customize the delivery window to two hours or so.
Tip – 2 FedEx also has a similar feature via its app where you can personalize the delivery options for your packages. It lets you customize delivery times, sign for a package remotely, request a vacation hold on a package and receive delivery notification all from the comfort of your iPhone or iPad.
It’s easy to enroll into these courier programs and for a small fee you can save yourself a lot of hassles and headache.
Tip – 3 For Apple Products that you order from Apple.com, you can also customize some of the delivery options including taking advantage of the same day courier delivery for in-stock apple products. They give you a two-hour delivery window. If you have the time, you can also choose to pick the product up from an Apple store near you. For products that are expensive, it is always a good option to pick it up from the nearest Retail outlet. Bestbuy also offers similar programs
Tip – 4 You can also choose to get the packages delivered at your work address if that kind of thing is cool with your employer.
Tip – 5 This may be a good time for you to get yourself a video doorbell if you were contemplating on installing one this ear. Ring.com provides an excellent video doorbell at an affordable cost. Once installed, you will always know when your package arrives at your doorstep.
The free iOS app with the product provides you with an instant alert when someone presses the button on your door. The product also has built-in motion sensor that detects any movement and triggers an alert. It is easy to install and comes with a lifetime purchase protection.
Most people know, that “everyone” is shopping online these days, rather than hassling long lines, difficult parking and everything else associated with the rapidly disappearing mall experience.
By taking a few extra steps you can prevent these porch pirates from spoiling your holiday experience and making it a little difficult for them to walk away with your Santa Shipments.
Happy Holiday Shopping!