Porch pirates drive Brooklyn residents to shipping stores for package security
Earlier this year, the mayor’s office estimated that 90,000 packages are stolen or lost in transit daily across the city.
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As the holiday season kicks off, many Brooklyn residents are opting to send their packages to local shipping stores instead of their homes to avoid porch pirates. One such store in Mill Basin, Outside the Box Shipping, now receives roughly 100 packages a day from customers who don’t want to risk leaving deliveries on their doorsteps.
Alexa, a customer at the store, said she’s taken this precaution after losing more than $500 worth of stolen packages.
“I’ve seen some come up, look at the camera, and put their head down. They’re getting smarter,” said Joseph, another customer, describing thieves he’s caught on video.
Posts about package thefts flood local apps and social media, with Brooklyn residents sharing their frustrations. Many say they’ve tried everything — even installing cameras — to no avail.
“Still got stolen anyway,” one Brooklynite recounted. “I watched this person grab it and go.”
The scale of the problem is staggering. Earlier this year, the mayor’s office estimated that 90,000 packages are stolen or lost in transit daily across the city.
Outside the Box Shipping, which operates multiple locations, offers a solution for worried residents. Customers can set up a mailbox and receive email notifications for each delivery. Packages and mail are stored safely until they’re picked up.
“You get peace of mind knowing you can come after work to get your packages and not worry that they’ll be stolen off your porch,” said Outside the Box Shipping Owner Andrew Epstein.
