Porch pirate prevention in Santa Cruz County ahead of a busy holiday season
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Local police are warning residents about a growing holiday threat, porch pirates. These thieves are taking advantage of unattended packages left outside homes.
Porch pirates are not a new problem, and targeting homes during the holiday season has become more of an issue as more people shop online.
In Watsonville, police are urging residents to take extra precautions to safeguard their packages.
"During the holidays, we do tend to see an uptick in package thefts," Michelle Pulido PIO for the city of Watsonville said. "That's why it's really important that residents are taking those necessary steps to protect themselves."
Some residents, like Suzy, are taking steps to keep their deliveries safe. She stays in touch with her neighbors and family to let them know when she’s expecting a package."
"I try to let my neighbors know when i'm going to be gone, when i'm getting something delivered, because it's very helpful," Suzy Watsonville said.
However, not everyone has neighbors who can take in packages or surveillance cameras.
One Watsonville resident who’s been a victim of porch pirating twice says the thefts left her without valuable items.
"This has happened to me twice and both times I would be at my brother's house late and I get home and they had sent me the picture of the package on my porch Amazon did, Suzy Watsonville said. "But when I get there, it's not there."
While surveillance cameras can be a helpful tool, some people say thieves are becoming more clever.
"Cameras are help, but I think it's still they they wear hoodies nowadays, the cameras don't help that much but cameras would help somewhat if you can identify them," Dave from Watsonville said.
Watsonville officials say there are several simple ways residents can protect their deliveries and prevent thefts.
"Make sure that you're home when those deliveries are arriving," Pulido said. "You can also have your deliveries shipped to your workplace if that's something that's possible or to a family's home, you can always request to have a signature, request on there. "You can have your post office hold the package for you so that you can personally pick up your items."
"If you do become a victim of package theft, police stress the importance of reporting it immediately. Surveillance footage can help law enforcement track down the thieves and prevent further crimes.
