While Edmonton police report a modest decline in porch piracy this year, authorities are cautioning residents that the theft of delivered packages remains a persistent problem, especially during the busy holiday season.
Residents Turn to Physical Defenses
Tania Claramunt, a resident in the Avonmore/King Edward Park area, is taking a proactive step to protect her family's deliveries. She is installing a large, lockable metal box on her front porch, bolted into the cement. This move comes as a direct response to a brazen theft last month, where a man in a camouflage hoodie stole two packages from her porch less than an hour after they were delivered—despite it being daytime and someone being home.
"People are kind of commenting that this has been happening frequently," Claramunt noted. She shared that a neighbour had a package containing diapers stolen earlier in the year. The community has begun to coordinate, watching out for each other's deliveries in an effort to keep them safe.
Police Data and Criminal Tactics
Const. Shiva Shunmugam of the Edmonton Police Service confirmed that while package theft is not new, it often spikes during the holidays. This year, however, data shows a six per cent decrease in incidents compared to the previous year.
Despite the decline, the problem is far from solved. Police have observed a common tactic where criminals follow delivery trucks and vans on their routes, waiting for an opportunity to quickly snatch parcels left unattended. "In general, be aware of your surroundings," Const. Shunmugam advised.
Proactive Measures Recommended
Edmonton police are urging the public to plan for deliveries and be ready to receive packages. They recommend using tracking features from retailers like Amazon to monitor delivery status in real-time. The installation of security measures, such as doorbell cameras and other surveillance systems, is also encouraged.
"Even in the case of minor thefts, the information on the cameras and reports of thefts can still be useful to police in tracking criminals and keeping an eye on trends," Const. Shunmugam explained. This data helps law enforcement identify patterns and potentially link suspects to multiple offences.
For her part, Claramunt acknowledges the limitations of police response to such frequent, low-value crimes. She expressed a wish that delivery drivers would make more effort, such as ringing the doorbell or sending a notification, especially when someone is home to accept the package directly.
As the holiday delivery rush continues, the combination of community vigilance, physical security solutions like Claramunt's lockbox, and heeding police advice represents the frontline defense against porch pirates in Edmonton neighbourhoods.
