Law Enforcement Using GPS Tracking Device to Thwart Holiday Package Theft

GPS tracking devices help local police department track down stolen packages.

With the holiday season in full swing, there is unfortunately a higher risk of having packages stolen right off the doorsteps of unsuspecting residents. It is a growing problem that is affecting people all over the country.

Thieves are making it their business to follow delivery truck drivers around cities, hanging back when they drop off a package, then running to the doorstep to steal the package if nobody is around. Police know this and figured out a way to handle on the problem.

Unfortunately, an estimated 23 million people have had their packages stolen from their doorsteps. There was a couple in Delaware who were spotted backing into a driveway and taking two packages from the home, worth a total of $4,000. In California, a man drove to a nearby house while a passenger took two packages from the stoop before driving off. There are also homeowners who are using video surveillance in front of their home, including a man in INdianapolis. He caught the thief on surveillance and posted it to social media. WIthin a few hours, an arrest was made.

Police are now using small GPS tracking devices inside packages that are seemingly dropped off by a delivery truck, but are actually an undercover policeman. The officer dresses like a delivery driver and drives a UPS truck to a home nearby. He or she takes a package with a GPS tracker inside and drops it off at the doorstep of a resident who also knows about what is happening. The thief behind the truck pulls up after the delivery driver leaves and takes the package.

What this thief doesn’t know, though, is that he is being tracked. The police department gets a signal alert immediately when the package is picked up and moved. They follow on a computer, which gives the direction and whereabouts of the package. They follow the thief and are able to make an arrest on the spot.

While police are starting to crack down on these types of thefts, they can’t track every package delivered. For this reason, they encourage people to only have packages delivered when they will be home or require a signature before dropping it off. That way, UPS will not deliver it but keep it at the local post office. Another option is to have the package delivered at a nearby access point, such as a grocery store, dry cleaners or hardware store.

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