Reno Police say they're starting to see an increase in porch pirates during the holiday season.
Public Information Officer Hunter Mercurio says, "Especially around the holidays, we do see a lot more package thefts that are occurring. It's very important when you are ordering from Amazon or various online sites that you have a secure place to put them."
To help prevent your packages from being stolen, have them delivered to a P.O. box, an Amazon locker, or even your work. You can also schedule which days you want your packages to be delivered on.
"Make sure you let your neighbors know that you are ordering a lot of gifts this year so they can keep an eye out as well," said Mercurio. "Make sure you're staying prompt on that stuff. They have the automated garage door apps where they can just put the packages in your garage."
Whatever you do, do not take matters into your own hands. Police say they're seeing some homeowners set traps or leave out fake packages filled with stuff like explosive paint or glitter.
"It was like a trip wire type incident, and it was like a shotgun shell attached to it. Luckily, we were able to locate that before that happened," he said.
Agencies like the Washoe County Sheriff's Office already have a program where they leave out packages with trackers to catch people who steal them. So, leave the porch pirates to law enforcement, and not reenact "Home Alone."
Mercurio explains, "That can be a liability on your own property as well as potentially injuring somebody committing the crime. It is still a property crime, so it's important to stay away from taking justice into your own hands."
If you do get a package stolen, you can file an online report or call the Reno Police non-emergency line at (775) 334-2677.
