{"id":25600,"date":"2020-11-17T06:33:46","date_gmt":"2020-11-17T06:33:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.parcelpending.com\/blog\/how-to-prevent-package-theft-this-holiday-season\/"},"modified":"2023-04-03T20:19:25","modified_gmt":"2023-04-03T20:19:25","slug":"how-to-prevent-package-theft-this-holiday-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.parcelpending.com\/en-ca\/blog\/how-to-prevent-package-theft-this-holiday-season\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prevent Package Theft This Holiday Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2021 <\/span>holiday shopping<\/span> season is already well underway and poised to break records for online sales. Deloitte expects <\/span>holiday<\/span> e-commerce sales to grow by 11-15% year-over-year, generating up to $218 billion this season \u2013 topping $200 billion for the first time<\/span>1<\/sup><\/span>. This should come as no surprise since, as Adobe reports, consumers will spend more than $86 billion on <\/span>holiday shopping<\/span> using their smartphones \u2013 a 16.6% increase over last year \u2013 and the average US consumer will spend at least 12 hours shopping online this <\/span>holiday season<\/span>2<\/sup><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

But with more packages comes more opportunities for <\/span>porch pirates<\/span> to steal packages. In fact, a recent survey by Accenture estimates that 77% of consumers want their online purchases delivered to their homes<\/span>3<\/sup><\/span>. This compounds an already significant increase in home deliveries since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with a surveillance camera, a recently delivered package in <\/span>plain sight<\/span> is an easy target for a <\/span>thief<\/span> who wants to engage in porch piracy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Property managers should expect to manage significantly more packages this <\/span>holiday season<\/span> as residents opt to avoid stores and shop online. Communities could potentially see as many as 486 package deliveries per week during the <\/span>holiday season<\/span>4<\/sup><\/span>. This is important for multifamily communities to be aware of as the number of packages they receive typically increases from an average of 150 packages per week to 270 packages per week during the <\/span>holiday season<\/span> \u2013 an 81% increase even during “normal” times<\/span>5<\/sup><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s take a look how <\/span>holiday shoppers<\/span> can <\/span>prevent package theft<\/span> this <\/span>holiday season <\/span>with the following <\/span>safety tips<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

Package Theft is a Major Issue<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With the increase in packages comes an increase in porch piracy and <\/span>package theft<\/span> incidences. From March to July of last year, 1 in 5 Americans reported having had a package or delivered item stolen. And the majority of <\/span>package theft<\/span> \u2013 40% \u2013 occurs at apartment communities. While <\/span>package theft<\/span> is a major nuisance for consumers, it also has financial repercussions. In fact, Americans report losing an average of $106 to porch piracy, and about 30% report not receiving any financial reimbursement for their loss. Sadly, less than half of Americans reported that their <\/span>porch pirates<\/span> were caught by their local <\/span>police department<\/span>6<\/sup><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Smart Lockers Fight Porch Piracy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

To <\/span>prevent package theft<\/span> as well as <\/span>mail theft<\/span>, many properties place resident packages and mail into the property office for safekeeping until residents come to pick them up. However, more than one-third of property managers report that their communities’ package <\/a><\/span>room<\/span> solutions are not adequate during high volume periods, such as the <\/span>holiday season<\/span>. Looking for <\/span>package theft <\/span>prevention solutions so you won’t become a <\/span>package theft<\/span> victim? This is where innovative proptech solutions, such as Parcel Pending’s smart package lockers, come into play.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Parcel Pending offers a wide range of solutions that ensure the simple and secure delivery and retrieval of packages and online orders. Our electronic lockers help property managers enhance their residents’ overall experiences, save valuable staff time, and drive resident retention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why are smart lockers the best solution to fight <\/span>package theft<\/span>? Unlike cameras, parcel lockers provide physical protection and security for packages, not just a deterrent that may or may not be effective. Parcel lockers in residential communities also provide residents with 24\/7 access to packages where they live, so residents don’t have to go offsite or rearrange their schedules to wait for couriers or scheduled delivery services.<\/span><\/p>\n

The way Parcel Pending works is simple. Recipients receive delivery alerts by text, email, or via a mobile app when they have a <\/span>package <\/span>delivery<\/span>. Once the notification is received, the recipient can pick up the package using the unique code provided in the notification, or by using our mobile app. Property managers do not need to sign for, sort, or distribute packages to residents. Instead, our multifamily locker solutions provide a secure, fast, and easy way for residents to retrieve their own packages at their convenience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although many Americans are working from home or spending much more time at home, the reality is that they may not <\/span>always <\/span><\/i>hear the doorbell or delivery truck. Sometimes residents may be on a conference call, cooking, running a quick errand outside of the home, or otherwise occupied and they may not be aware that their package or delivery has arrived on their doorstep. Smart lockers give them (and property managers) peace of mind knowing that their package will be safe and secure until they can retrieve it from the locker.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Residents value the fact that parcel lockers keep their packages safe and secure. Additional smart locker benefits include:<\/span><\/p>\n