Some of the bigger tips we receive on a daily basis here at CHPN is people tired of having their packages stolen or lost from their front door or porches. It is a tedious and lengthy affair to recover your packages and complaining about delivery seems to get us nowhere closer to a resolution. So what to do? Do we just accept that sneaky “front porch pirates”, as some news sites call them, will take your packages from time to time?
Let’s start by taking a look at this proud owner of new vitamins, courtesy of our neighbor Alex Van N.
Media for article "5 Tips to Avoid Getting Your Packages Stolen" https://chpn.net/2018/02/01/5-tips-to-avoid-getting-your-packages-stolen/
Posted by Church Hill People's News on Sunday, February 11, 2018
Two things come to my mind when watching this: one, there’s something really unsettling about a stranger rummaging through your front porch in the middle of the night. Two, this is a darn good camera! So what can you do besides throw your hands in the air and say “well this is a city and things like this happen all the time in cities!” Some of these next tips do take the convenience out of having your package delivered to your front porch, but for some of you it may give you the peace of mind you need.
Use the Smart Package Lockers or Package Delivery Locations
To avoid your Amazon packages from being taken, consider using Amazon Locker. This feature allows you to receive packages at secure locations. You find these when selecting a shipping address during the checkout process. Our closest Amazon Locker is called “Genevieve” and she’s at 2320 E Main St at Farm Fresh.
- The Shockoe Valley Market also offers a package pickup place for UPS
- Though far, The UPS Store does have a package delivery option that’s actually pretty good. But you’d have to drive all the way to 3126 W Cary Street.
- Random thought, where are Church Hill’s options for package delivery?  (Of course, John M. has already asked that question)
Have packages delivered to your workplace or a friend’s house
Always check your workplace’s policies, of course. And your friend sort of has to be at home too.
Install a Front Door Security Camera
- This is a good option for surveillance but you can’t just get any camera. If you saw the video, a good resolution (at least 1080p) is needed to make a positive identification
- Surveillance is all good, but that doesn’t prevent actual theft unless you get cameras with a built-in siren and motion sensors
This one is specific to Amazon again, but Amazon Key.
It’s not cheap ($250) but you get an indoor security camera and a smart lock.
- Amazon authorizes the delivery
- You get confirmation
- You watch the delivery live or view a video clip after
- You have to be ok and trust a delivery person having access to your home.
Lastly, completely for the future: Robot Guards!
Ok that last one is questionable. And to update you on Alex:
An officer stopped by my house Sunday morning and I let him know what happened and showed him the video. He had me email him the video and said a detective may be in touch with me this week. He said since the video is pretty high quality, they may be able to identify the individual.
(About a few days later)
I wanted to give you an update that a Richmond city detective just called and to let me know they are actively looking for the suspect and they are distributing the video to various news outlets to try to get someone to be able to identify him. He said he will keep me updated of any progress.
23 comments
FB_1206119449424292
FB_10155605571160862
FB_10211116872228825
I pay $37 a month to have my packages delivered to the UPS Center on Grove. I order online A LOT and I just couldn’t take it anymore. I’m really happy. Good luck!
That’s great news about putting it on the news so his friends and family can see what a terrible person he is. And hopefully get him arrested and scare other people so they’ll stop doing this.
Two additional suggestions:
1. Motion sensor lights. Really bright ones. You can even get a setup where they have a night setting so you can leave them on but they get substantially brighter when someone trips the sensor.
2. If you’re going to get a camera, you might as well get one of these: https://www.theblankbox.com. Nonlethal and apparently terrifying. And really, what’s the point of watching someone steal your packages on camera if you don’t get to watch them soil themselves and run away in panic?
L – you didn’t post a comment on slate yesterday, by chance???
What camera was used to record the above video? The quality looks great!
@Gina, it is a service called Nest. Pretty good resolution, right?
wow, thanks for sharing Steve. Guess that’s not a reliable option.
Church Hill People’s News Second time I’ve tried to order something and noticed it was full. I wonder how long customers have to pick up their items.
I had a UPS package sent to a pick up locker at 2905 Nine Mile-Mo Convenience Store. Not my choosing, it was sent there because I was not home to sign for it. Just a heads up–do not use this location on purpose. I was approached by people asking for money both times I went to this locker in the day light, and was berated for not buying someone a loaf of bread. The lockers are also on the side of the building and not in a very open/exposed location. NOT SAFE!
@ MP – nope. Why do you ask?
Sometimes you get a “locker full” message due to the number of items you are purchasing requires a box that is larger than the lockers. I had that happen last week and just deleted an item from cart and Genevieve was available. You have 3 days to claim and they ship back.
My blankbox solution has been to use my Prime boxes with name cut out and fill them with my dog’s crap. Usually takes 5-7 days for someone to take the bate. Last week a tweeker at 4 a.m. picked up my load. Makes for fun video viewing.
While Ive used the Amazon lockers for deliveries, not all items on Amazon are eligible to be shipped to a locker. I can understand that for large items, but I ordered some towels that werent eligible to be shipped to a locker. I have heard that the new grocery store coming to 25th and 9 Mile will have Amazon lockers, too. Im currently researching options for a lock box or something similar so packages can still be delivered to my house.
@L Those blankbox videos have been the highlight of my day. Thank you for that!
That piece of garbage is wearing one of my Christmas presents. We just moved here from Chicago, and I had asked my wife for that Bears sweatshirt for Christmas. It’s an unusual/unique piece of Bears gear, so when I saw the video my mouth dropped. We also had a few other items taken that were delivered as well. This must be the thief: wearing that design, only a few blocks from my place, only a few weeks after being taken, coupled with the string of package thefts… Not just a coincidence. Let’s find this guy.
@Brad That is incredible! This is my video from my front porch. They were showing still images of this guy on NBC news yesterday trying to find someone who can identify him. I really hope he gets caught and this does something to reduce the number of stolen packages.
@Alex Thank you for sharing the video with everyone. I did see the local news and hope somebody was able to recognize and provide information leading to an arrest. However, since this hasn’t happened yet, and my new community has been impacted I’ve felt the need to do my part. I’m going to kinkos and making a couple hundred fliers with this guys face on them, and the police’s number, then stapling every lamp post in CH. I hope you do not mind if I use screen grabs from your video.
@ Brad That is awesome! You may have this info already but anyone with information should contact First Precinct Detective Adrian Partain at (804) 646-1290
You’re awesome Brad – thanks for doing this!
MP, the toxic culture of richmond will congratulate this thief, not condemn him.
you must be new here.