Smart Security Outsmarts Package Theft

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Smart Security Outsmarts Package Theft livery when they’re not home. (NAPSA)—Ifyou'veever expected a package that seemed to neverarrive, you may be a victim of package theft—and youre not alone. Some 11 million U.S. homeowners have been victim to package theft within this past year, according toa new study from August Home. The study, Package Theft Report: Outsmarting Criminals at Your Front Door, examinestherise in package theft and how consumers approachprotecting their packages. Having packages delivered directly to your doorstep is a huge convenience,not only for shoppers, but for porch pirates whosteal your packages before you even realize they've been delivered. Thieves have been known tofollow delivery trucks, watching for prime targets. These thieves commonly strike during work hours when many homesare empty, which was the case for 74 percentofvictims whohad a packagestolen within the last year. Package theft victims also reported being home(22 percent) or on vaca- tion (17 percent) while the crime was committed. The frustrations associated with this growing issue goes beyondthe theft to the incon- venience of having to navigate next steps as consumers attempt to resolve the issue. Victims reported spendingclose to $200 to replace each stolen package, and noted that they were forced to stay home when expecting deliveries (49 percent) or leave workearly to meet the delivery person (20 percent) to prevent theft. As on-demandservices, like AmazonPrime,offer delivery optionsfaster than the timeit would take to purchase goods in-person, more Americansare increasingly looking to online shoppingto suit their needs. According to 77 percent of homeowners and 86 percent of previous packagetheft victims, smart locks are valued as a solution for in-homedelivery, providing theability to easily Smart home technologylets you Safely open your doorfor deliveries, even when you are not there. Not just a seasonal phenomenon,26 percent of U.S. homeownersreceive packages on a weekly basis and 39 percent on a monthly basis, which doesn’t take into accountthe influx of deliveries surrounding various holidays. There are basic precautions that consumers can take to mitigate the risk of package theft, such as having shipmentssent to their office, getting a post office box, diligently monitoring tracking numbersor payingextra for signature confirmation—all of which take the convenience out of homedelivery. Thanks to the ease of smart homesecurity, these old stand- by solutions are meeting their technological match. Smart hometechnologysignificantly improves the way homeowners receive deliveries, and with accessories like app-controlled doorbell cameras, consumers can beinstantly alerted when someoneis at their front door— whetherit is a delivery person or a would-be package thief intercepting thedelivery. Ina perfect world, 28 percent of respondents expressed their desire to have a delivery person leave packages directly inside their home.In fact, smart lock and doorbell camera features that allow for remote monitoring of one’s front door made 94 percent of previous package theft victims feel more comfortable allowing in-home de- grant remote access to their home via their smartphone. Doorbell cameras increase comfort even more, with the peace of mindto see anyoneat your door, from anywhere, and enablingyouto alert the proper authorities and stop the crime in its tracks. “Packagetheft is increasing exponentially. And this doesn't just affect consumers’ wallets as they replace stolen goods,it’s also a threat to them feeling safe and secure at home,’said Jason Johnson, CEO ofAugust Home. “With the average value of packagesstolen costing $200 or moreto replace, 80 percent of homeowners mentioned that they wouldratherinvest in smart technology, such as our Doorbell Cam, which wouldeliminate this worry once andforall, rather than continue to spend money replacing stolen goods” The August Smart Lock, Doorbell Cam and Smart Keypad work together to turn your smartphoneinto a mobile commandcenter for your front door. Consumers can control access by issuingvirtual keys or key codesfor specific dates and times. You can also monitor access through instant notifications when someoneis at your door and whenthey unlock and lock the door. August Homeeven makesit possible to review whoaccesses your front door with a 24/7 activity feed of all activity including video clips of those who entered. and exited. For additionalfacts and stats about packagetheft and solutions to improve your life, visit www.august.com.

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