SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — With the holiday season on the horizon, it’s the time of year when people decorate their homes, buy presents for loved ones and porches get stacked with packages. This creates a field day for thieves.
Porch piracy is a growing epidemic all over the nation.
According to Forbes, in 2022, 79% of Americans fell victim to porch pirates with more than half having more than one package stolen from their doorstep.
The Spokane Police Department (SPD) does not have data specifically on porch pirate thefts.
However, the months heading into the holiday season is when property theft trends upwards.
“October, it [porch piracy] picks up a little bit, and then, especially November and early parts of December,” Cpl. Nick Briggs, said.
Briggs told NonStop Local that security cameras can be a tool used to deter thieves and to provide evidence to law enforcement.
“It was my kid’s school clothes. School season is already a financial burden alone, without having to buy things again,” said Shawnee Satterlee, a Spokane Valley resident who was a victim of porch pirates.
In August, Satterlee was infuriated to see on her home security camera that porch pirates had stolen her package.
She filed a police report, however, she was stuck having to buy a second set of school clothes to replace the stolen set.
Both Briggs and Satterlee told NonStop Local that working with neighbors can be a smart way to keep items safe.
“I know when packages are coming. I watch my cameras when they get delivered. I’ll text and call one of my neighbors and they will come and grab it for me. I do not leave it out,” Satterlee said.
“The less time a package sits on the doorstep, the less likely it’s going to be stolen,” Briggs said.
