Hundreds of millions of packages are on their way to homes across the country. They should be bringing holiday joy, but those same packages create opportunities for thieves. According to a study by Security.

Secure a sturdy, plastic box to a railing with a chain to deter petty criminals. It doesn't need to be a rock-solid safe. You can put a combination lock on it if you include delivery instructions for opening the lock with orders you place. Porch piracy is typically a crime of opportunity. So, keep deliveries out of sight.

Tracking packages, holding them at the post office if you’re out of town, investing in a security system — those are all solid strategies for keeping your deliveries safe.

A 2024 study by SafeWise estimates more than 120 million packages were taken from porches across the U.S. in 2023, up one million from the year before.