Porch Pirates Steal Packages In Elkridge, Laurel On Amazon Prime Day
ELKRIDGE, Md. (WJZ) -- Porch pirates were caught on camera grabbing packages from homes on Amazon Prime Day.
Howard County Police posted a video on social media of a man taking packages from a home on Orren Boyle Court in Elkridge around 1 p.m. Monday.
Another porch pirate was caught on camera in Laurel taking a package from a home in the 9800 block of June Flowers Way around 6:45 p.m.
Police warn online shoppers that popular days to shop -- like Amazon Prime Day -- are known to porch pirates and that they could become a target.
"We see this during the holidays around Christmas times and on days when online shopping is popular like Prime Days." said Seth Hoffman with Howard County Police.
One resident, Brad Dunagan said many of his neighbors are concerned about it.
"A lot of my neighbors have the cameras to throw on their porches because they're concerned about it," Dunagan said.
Here are some tips to help you protect these deliveries:
- Consider installing a doorbell camera to be notified whenever someone comes to your door.
- Track your shipments and try to be home when they are scheduled to arrive. If you won't be home, ask a trusted neighbor or friend to take the package inside until you get home.
- Request that the delivery service leave the package in a less-obvious location, like a side or back door, that can't be seen from the sidewalk.
- Ask your employer if you can have the shipment delivered to your workplace.
Amazon lockers are also a way to keep your package safe. You can select the location you want to use at checkout, and your package is shipped to that location, locked inside the locker for you to get whenever you can.
If you recognize the porch pirate or his vehicle, contact police at 410-313-STOP or hcpdcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov.
As always, you are encouraged to report suspicious activity in your neighborhood to HCPD by calling 911 or the non-emergency number at 410-313-2200.