Online shopping has made it so convenient to buy any number of things that many of us place our orders and forget about them until the boxes show up at our doorstep. Oh yeah, it's that thing I needed!
As nice as it is to get something delivered to your door in a matter of days—if not hours—there will come a time when you won't be around to receive a package. Most people are stuck inside these days, but what if you happen to be out or your apartment building's mailroom isn't secure? A package sitting in front of a house or in an apartment lobby is an easy target for theft.
According to a PCMag survey of 1,500 people, about 25 percent are concerned about having their packages stolen. Security-related devices are the most popular smart home products—28 percent have a security camera, 25 percent have a video doorbell, and 17 percent have a smart lock. Our survey also found that most people are willing to spend an average of $110.86 on home protection gadgets.
A separate survey of 1,000 US respondents who said they were buying tech products this Prime Day found that 17 percent of shoppers have experienced package theft, meaning nearly one in six respondents have had an Amazon package stolen from their doorstep. Another 16 percent weren't sure, so perhaps they're shopping so much online they don't notice when a purchase goes missing!
If you've ever had to rush home to bring in a package, perhaps you should consider one of these gadgets or services to help secure those deliveries. Peace of mind can often be worth the price.
Install a Video Doorbell
If a security camera isn't your style, consider a video doorbell instead. Our Editors' Choice selections include the $179 August Doorbell Cam Pro (pictured), $159 Ring Video Doorbell Pro, $199 Ring Peephole Cam, and $99 RemoBell S.
Key By Amazon for Garage and Gate Deliveries
If you're comfortable with a delivery person coming into your garage or opening your electronic gate and leaving your delivery inside while you're away, check out Key by Amazon. Set up the service and schedule deliveries in the Key by Amazon app, then use compatible Ring video doorbells and cameras to watch the delivery person leave your package. While home and car delivery services have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, garage and gate deliveries are still available.
Garage deliveries are available in select areas and for certain garage door brands; you can check eligibility on Amazon's website. A Key by Amazon Smart Garage Kit is required to use the service. For gate deliveries, Amazon can gain access to your electronic gate as long as you have the Ring Access Controller Pro installed.
Safe Package Delivery with Amazon Hub
If you're not jazzed about having strangers poking around while you're away, Amazon Hub can offer a safe place to store Amazon packages until you can pick them up.
Amazon Hub Lockers are in more than 900 cities and towns across the US—many inside convenience stores, gyms, or supermarkets—and you can ship items to them at no extra cost. To do so, add a local Amazon Locker to your address book and choose it as your shipping address at checkout. When your package arrives, Amazon will email you a six-digit code you'll use to unlock the locker.
Similar services are offered by GoLocker, Luxer One, PackagePad, and Parcel Pending, and major parcel delivery services—including UPS, FedEx, and the USPS—have their own locker systems.
Amazon also has Amazon Hub Counter, which allows local businesses to serve as drop-off points for your packages, in case you aren't around. You will be notified where the package has been delivered and can then pick it up at your convenience.
A Smart Delivery Box with BoxLock
A delivery box is a good way to hide packages from potential porch pirates, but if it's obvious where all the deliveries are going, there's no extra protection there. Normally you can't use a padlock because the delivery person would have no way of accessing it, but BoxLock is different.
This smart lock comes equipped with its own scanner, powered by Wi-Fi that connects the lock to your home network and a Bluetooth radio for close-range communications. Just add your pending deliveries to the mobile app. When the delivery person arrives, they scan the package and BoxLock unlocks, allowing the delivery to be stored inside.
Set Up an Outdoor Security Camera
One way to deter thieves, or catch them in the act, is to install a security camera. Among our favorite outdoor security cameras are the Arlo Pro 3 and Arlo Ultra. Both cost more than $300, though, so if you want something more affordable, the $99 Ring Stick Up Cam (pictured) and the $89 Ezviz C3W ezGuard Wi-Fi Security Camera are also good options. For tips on setting up your camera, check out our guide.
Schedule Delivery Times With Doorman
If deliveries tend to arrive when you're not home, schedule them to come at more convenient times. With the Doorman service, you send your package to one of the company's secure warehouses, and then use the Doorman app to schedule a convenient delivery time. Doorman is currently available in San Francisco, Chicago, and New York City. You can pay as you go ($5/ visit and $2/ package) or choose a monthly subscription plan starting at $19.
7 Tips to Get the Best Deals on Amazon Prime Day
Looking to do a little online shopping this Prime Day? To nab the best deals, check out our tips in the video above.