With the upcoming Holiday Season, residents need to also be aware that this is Porch Pirate Season. Porch Pirates are thieves that take advantage of the packages or gifts left at the front door of your residence. They quickly walk away with your package after it is delivered.

 The Queen Creek Police Department (QCPD) will actively be on the lookout but need everyone’s help to prevent this crime from occurring. Here are some tips to deter Porch Pirates.

• If you know a package is going to be delivered when you are not home, try to leave a car parked in the driveway. This will give the appearance that someone is home.
• When choosing your shipping details, take a moment to check off “signature required.” This is an option with all the major services, like UPS, FedEx, DHL, and USPS.
• Consider signing up for a paid service that will receive and protect your packages until you can pick them up. Major delivery services like Amazon, FedEx and UPS offer locker services.
• Install a porch lock box on your front porch for your packages to be placed in by the deliverer. You can also get a device called a Package Guard that sounds an alarm after a package is placed on top and then lifted.
• Sign up for services from the delivery company such as Amazon “Key”. With these services, packages can be secured inside your house or garage by giving temporary access to the deliverer.
• Have the package delivered to the house of someone you know will be home during delivery.
• Install Security Cameras in a location that is obviously visible. If they don’t deter the Pirate, they will give Law Enforcement a lead to who the Pirate is.

As always, report any suspicious people or vehicles seen in your neighborhood. Porch Pirates do not typically drive work vehicles, so keep an eye out for standard vehicles that you are not used to seeing on your street. Porch Pirates do not want their vehicle to be on camera of the house they strike so look for people who park in front of one house and walk down to another house. If you see a person you don’t recognize in your neighborhood walking up to the front door of a house, get your phone and be ready to record them and their vehicle if they begin walking away with packages.

Law enforcement officials also advise you to lock your cars and be aware of package thieves as you're out and about shopping as well.

Remember that no package is worth your safety. Be a great witness and let Law Enforcement confront the package thief.

For more safety tips go to QueenCreekAZ.Gov/SafetyTips.