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Porch pirates poaching holiday packages in Kansas City

Posted at 2:12 PM, Dec 06, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-06 19:52:37-05

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — 70 percent of homeowners expect to receive a package this holiday season. Experts say if you are one of them, you better have a plan to make sure your stuff isn’t left sitting on your porch.

In a video posted on Nextdoor.com, you can see a man stealing a package off of someone’s porch in Kansas City, Kansas. It’s one of several videos that have been posted on social media this holiday season.

Porch pirates are becoming more and more common. In the last year, 11 million homeowners reported having a package stolen.

“I just don’t want to see this happen to somebody else,” said Denise Benavides who had packages stolen off of her porch.

Benavides' surveillance camera captured two thieves swiping nearly $600 worth of Christmas gifts off of her porch Tuesday afternoon.

“I’ve heard about it and you always think you’re not the one it's going to happen to because it hasn't,” said Benavides.

Benavides thought that the A.D.T. Security sign outside her home on Grandview road in Kansas City, Missouri.

“I just don’t feel secure now,” said Benavides.

Package deliveries have increased nearly 30 percent since 2012.

During the holiday season that number ramps up even more.

It’s important that homeowners be proactive and find ways to protect their packages.

“Feel free to have them sent here, we have someone here all of the time,” said Jeanna Brennan, owner of Cabana Tan.

Brennan is offering up her tanning salon as a place people can have their packages delivered for safe keeping.

“Actually, I have an empty room here that we figured we would store everything in. Then you can message me to see if your package is here and swing by and pick it up,” said Brennan.

Benavides says she’ll likely take advantage of a kindness like that in the future.

“It just kind of breaks my heart that this is what happens to people who are just trying to make a good Christmas for their kids and their grandchildren,” said Benavides.

Experts say the best thing you can do to avoid a package theft is have it delivered to a secure location.

They suggest your office, a local business, a UPS Store or an Amazon Locker.

If you still want to have it delivered to your home they recommend asking a neighbor to keep an eye out for it.