Amid an unfortunate trend of ‘porch pirates’ stealing packages, Toronto police are recommending that residents report incidents to police and share security footage with investigators right away.
Porch pirates run up to houses and take packages left outside by delivery drivers; they are often caught on home security cameras, and the footage is then shared in community Facebook groups and on other social media platforms.
Toronto police told Now Toronto that anyone who is a victim of theft should come forward so the incident can be properly investigated.
“If there is video of the theft, or suspects, the images can be very helpful to an investigation, and we urge anyone with video to add it into the online report or share with an investigator.”
The reminder from Toronto police comes as their counterparts in Montreal are reminding residents to do the same if they have missing packages.
“We recommend that people send us images and videos to help the investigation,” The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) said in a statement to Now Toronto.
There is no data outlining the exact number of porch pirate thefts that take place in Toronto however, it is possible to deter potential thieves, police say.
Here are some tips to help individuals avoid being a victim of these crimes:
- Keep the lights on around your home or on your front porch.
- Ensure you have a functional security camera. This can also dissuade thieves, and ensure you have evidence and identify suspects in case there is a theft.
- Try to be home when you know a package is going to be delivered. If you can’t be home, see if a family member or a trusted neighbor can bring your package inside for you.
- Have your packages sent to a pickup location. Many carriers, like Amazon, offer pick-up options for deliveries.
