On Black Friday, the police warn that package thieves are targeting online shoppers

WESTFIELD, NJ — On Black Friday, police are warning online shoppers to beware of thieves stealing packages after they’ve been delivered.

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, experts say there are ways to avoid falling victim to porch pirates.

Doorbell cameras can see porch pirates in action, stealing packages from the porch.

Scott Ellner of East Brunswick, New Jersey, says he’s careful when ordering online.

“We contact UPS when we’re expecting something and we stick around and try to get it before the porch pirates come, and we’ve been lucky,” he said.

On Long Island, hackers took crime to another level. Police say they gained access to a homeowner’s credit card and used it to order multiple items. After the packages were delivered, the thieves went to the house to steal them, police said.

In that case, the defrauded family tried to pursue the alleged thieves.

“When [the porch pirate] was driving, I saw the car there. He had the door open, it was on, no one else was in there, he jumped in and ran,” said Erica Bernhard, a victim of porch piracy.

However thieves get their hands on someone else’s deliveries, authorities say millions of Americans are victimized every year.

How to stay safe from porch pirates

Police in Summit, New Jersey are urging people to use tracking numbers to monitor their packages, sign up for alerts and, if possible, choose an option that requires a signature for delivery. You can also install security cameras, leave instructions telling delivery people where to leave your packages, or install a lock box or package mailbox in your home.

“We have the Ring camera. So if there’s a package, we’ll tell them to put it closer to the door and try to run home and get it,” said Michelle Stein of Westfield, New Jersey.

“We personally don’t have a Ring camera, but we have a sign outside our house saying we have a security camera. So maybe don’t come by our house,” said Allison Collins, who also lives in Westfield.

Another good idea, according to police, is to work with your neighbors to keep an eye on each other’s deliveries and report suspicious activity.