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As holiday deliveries stack up across New York City, porch pirates are taking advantage of the season. One Morris Park resident says his package sat outside for just seconds before a thief grabbed it and disappeared — and he caught the entire thing on camera. Kazi Arif had been working from home when a man walked up to his front door and swiped a package worth more than $100. The box contained a dress meant for his wife to wear on their honeymoon. “I had other footage… the bag that he was holding had other packages in it!” Arif said. It’s a scenario many New Yorkers know too well. About 90,000 packages are stolen every day, according to the Department of Transportation. While Arif received a refund, a nationwide survey shows that one in four victims end up paying out of pocket — and advocates say consequences for thieves remain limited. “It’s frustrating and a major inconvenience as well,” Arif said. A bill introduced in the New York State Assembly would make package theft a felony with penalties of up to five years in prison. But Assemblymember Michael Tannousis, who represents parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island and had sponsored the bill back in January, says the measure has stalled. “Unfortunately any bill put forth which would increase the penalties for any type of conduct is not something the Assembly has been interested in passing,” Tannousis said. With no immediate legislative fix on the horizon, experts say the best protection this season comes from securing your deliveries. Arif says he now tracks packages in real time and monitors his front window closely. “I work right by the window so I'm just looking through the window and tracking the package online,” he said. How to keep your packages safe
  • Use an Amazon Locker: Check whether your order is eligible for pickup at a nearby locker. Many apartment buildings and businesses host them, and deliveries stay secure until you pick them up.
  • Look for secure pickup options from other carriers: FedEx, UPS and other services offer hold-at-location options so packages aren’t left unattended.
  • Try city-backed Go Lockers: The New York City Department of Transportation, in partnership with Go Locker, has placed more than dozens of free self-service locker locations across the five boroughs. It's a free service for up to 24 hours after a package is delivered, but there is also a subscription if customers wish to order frequently.
  • As New Yorkers gear up for the holiday rush, taking a few extra steps to secure deliveries may mean the difference between a package on your stoop — and one that never makes it under the tree.