Pasadena Police Urge Public to Watch Out for Holiday Porch Pirates

With more holiday shopping than ever expected to take place online this holiday season, Pasadena police are cautioning residents to be wary of opportunistic porch pirates.

Package theft is a year-round problem that always tends to be exacerbated during the bustle of the holiday season. With pandemic restrictions pushing more shoppers to cyberspace, the potential threat is increased, according to Pasadena police Lt. William Grisafe.

“The new round of stay-at-home orders that were recently put into place may limit the number of porch pirate activities, but it is still a concern,” he said.

To help avoid creating opportunities for thieves to exploit, the lieutenant advised residents to schedule package deliveries for when they are home, if possible.

“Don’t leave delivered packages on the porch for long periods of time,” Grisafe said. “If possible, pick the packages up immediately after they have been delivered.”

“If you are not able to immediately pick up the package, have a trusted neighbor who is home collect the package for you and hold onto it until you arrive home, or have the package delivered directly to the trusted neighbor’s residence if you know when ordering the item, that you will not be home.”

Storage locker deliveries are an increasingly common option among delivery carriers and provide an extra level of security, he added.

Outgoing packages, cards and letters should be deposited close to pick-up time to lessen the amount of time they go unattended, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service advises. 

Mail and package delivery can be placed on hold for those expecting to be away from home for a significant period of time. USPS customers can choose to use the “Hold for PickUp” option, allowing them to pick up packages at their local post offices.

Requesting signature confirmation on delivery can also cut down on theft, officials said.

Anyone who sees suspicious activity can reach the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4501.