4 ms·

In the video we see many people stealing from porches with video cameras, and the author mentions that the police didn't take action even with video evidence.

In the video we see many people stealing from porches with video cameras, and the author mentions that the police didn't take action even with video evidence. While I think your suggestion would reduce the chance of theft, I think you overestimate the accuracy of the risk-benefit analysis happening in the thieves' minds, as well as the actual risk involved. I mean, the activity is already dumb from a risk analysis point of view. But if they don't know of a package, they won't try to steal it. That is the area that I do think would do well.

blacksmith_tb 8y ago
I don't think the video evidence is meant to help the police (or, obviously, to deter the thieves), but it's useful for requesting a replacement from the shipper.
- bufferoverflow 8y ago
  I don't think the shippers are responsible for any theft that's not caused by their staff.
  - edc117 8y ago
    Does anyone know the answer to this? I'm very curious. I actually wonder if it would be worse to report that you have video evidence of a thief, because they may no longer be liable (hey, we delivered it to where it had to go, rest is up to you) vs just saying 'it never got here'.
    - laumars 8y ago
      I can’t speak for everywhere but in the UK most places will send you a replacement if the item was left on a porch and then stolen rather than with your neighbors. That is considered a failure of the delivery company. Further to that point, I haven’t even needed to provide evidence of stuff having been stolen. Which seems like a system ripe for abuse but it’s nice that it’s weighted in the customers favour for a change. Thankfully I’ve not needed to complain about stolen stuff in a long while, partly because generally stuff is tossed over a fence or left with neighbors. But mostly because I now live in a quiet village so I don’t get the same kind of passing opportunists like I did when I lived on a busy school road.
      - OJFord 8y ago
        You haven't taken receipt of the package by it being dumped on your doorstep. (I suppose with the exception of a delivery instruction 'leave on doorstep'...) While it may not be 'their fault', the choice of courier and their instructions is; it's also to some extent a cost of doing business. That said, I seldom see or have stuff left outside in the UK - assuming no 'if out' instruction - the vast majority of the time it's a 'sorry we missed you' note or occasionally with a neighbour/over the wall.
  - blacksmith_tb 8y ago
    There's a lot of discretion, I think - it's a customer service issue primarily, but I generally haven't had to provide any evidence (but I imagine if I claimed some high percentage of all my orders from one merchant were stolen, they'd demand proof or ultimately refuse to accept my orders).
jjeaff 8y ago
Problem is that some package thieves just trail behind the delivery truck. So even if hidden, they know it's there.
- tivert 8y ago
  From what I've heard, they typically trail a block or more behind the delivery truck, which means they can't often see the exact houses that get packages. Their goal isn't to see where they're delivered, but to get to them before anyone else does. If they trail too closely, they'll make the deliveryman suspicious.
  - NullPrefix 8y ago
    And what the deliverman is going to do? Slow down his deliveries?
    - tivert 8y ago
      > And what the deliverman is going to do? Slow down his deliveries? Call the police, obviously. Everyone has a mobile telephone these days. Doing so even makes sense from a business perspective, as the carrier may have to pay the insurance on all the stolen packages.
  - emanuensis 8y ago
    For package thieves most of the problem is solved, at least for those at home most of the time, like me, by simply having the delivery man RING THE BELL. Why this is not common practice for all deliverers, UPS/FEDEX/AZ etc. is beyond me. If the delivery man is already at the front porch all he has to do is reach for the bell. If the recipient knows about it he can be prompt, prompter than the thieves...
- donarb 8y ago
  Just had a story the other day about a delivery man working with his friends to steal packages. He would deliver then text his buddies the address. https://www.google.com/amp/amp.wftv.com/news/local/seasonal-delivery-driver-2-others-accused-in-lake-mary-package-stealing-scheme/890145952 https://www.google.com/amp/amp.wftv.com/news/local/seasonal-...

blacksmith_tb 8y ago

I don't think the video evidence is meant to help the police (or, obviously, to deter the thieves), but it's useful for requesting a replacement from the shipper.

bufferoverflow 8y ago
I don't think the shippers are responsible for any theft that's not caused by their staff.
- edc117 8y ago
  Does anyone know the answer to this? I'm very curious. I actually wonder if it would be worse to report that you have video evidence of a thief, because they may no longer be liable (hey, we delivered it to where it had to go, rest is up to you) vs just saying 'it never got here'.
  - laumars 8y ago
    I can’t speak for everywhere but in the UK most places will send you a replacement if the item was left on a porch and then stolen rather than with your neighbors. That is considered a failure of the delivery company. Further to that point, I haven’t even needed to provide evidence of stuff having been stolen. Which seems like a system ripe for abuse but it’s nice that it’s weighted in the customers favour for a change. Thankfully I’ve not needed to complain about stolen stuff in a long while, partly because generally stuff is tossed over a fence or left with neighbors. But mostly because I now live in a quiet village so I don’t get the same kind of passing opportunists like I did when I lived on a busy school road.
    - OJFord 8y ago
      You haven't taken receipt of the package by it being dumped on your doorstep. (I suppose with the exception of a delivery instruction 'leave on doorstep'...) While it may not be 'their fault', the choice of courier and their instructions is; it's also to some extent a cost of doing business. That said, I seldom see or have stuff left outside in the UK - assuming no 'if out' instruction - the vast majority of the time it's a 'sorry we missed you' note or occasionally with a neighbour/over the wall.
- blacksmith_tb 8y ago
  There's a lot of discretion, I think - it's a customer service issue primarily, but I generally haven't had to provide any evidence (but I imagine if I claimed some high percentage of all my orders from one merchant were stolen, they'd demand proof or ultimately refuse to accept my orders).

jjeaff 8y ago

Problem is that some package thieves just trail behind the delivery truck. So even if hidden, they know it's there.

tivert 8y ago
From what I've heard, they typically trail a block or more behind the delivery truck, which means they can't often see the exact houses that get packages. Their goal isn't to see where they're delivered, but to get to them before anyone else does. If they trail too closely, they'll make the deliveryman suspicious.
- NullPrefix 8y ago
  And what the deliverman is going to do? Slow down his deliveries?
  - tivert 8y ago
    > And what the deliverman is going to do? Slow down his deliveries? Call the police, obviously. Everyone has a mobile telephone these days. Doing so even makes sense from a business perspective, as the carrier may have to pay the insurance on all the stolen packages.
- emanuensis 8y ago
  For package thieves most of the problem is solved, at least for those at home most of the time, like me, by simply having the delivery man RING THE BELL. Why this is not common practice for all deliverers, UPS/FEDEX/AZ etc. is beyond me. If the delivery man is already at the front porch all he has to do is reach for the bell. If the recipient knows about it he can be prompt, prompter than the thieves...
donarb 8y ago
Just had a story the other day about a delivery man working with his friends to steal packages. He would deliver then text his buddies the address. https://www.google.com/amp/amp.wftv.com/news/local/seasonal-delivery-driver-2-others-accused-in-lake-mary-package-stealing-scheme/890145952 https://www.google.com/amp/amp.wftv.com/news/local/seasonal-...