The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff reminds residents of some simple tips to help prevent being a victim of porch pirates.
As lights are going up, families are gathering and presents are being purchased and delivered across the county, porch pirate are looking for opportunities. Utilize the tips below to make sure your packages don’t fall victim to a porch pirate.
- If you are expecting a package, try to schedule its delivery when you know you will be home. (Or ask your neighbors if they would mind holding on to your packages if you are away for the holidays.)
- Some of the major online retailers, such as Amazon, offer secure package receiving locations that you can access with a key or code.
- Security cameras and camera doorbells can be a great way to deter unwanted guests from scouting your porch. We also recommend putting up a sign that specifically states that your home is under surveillance.
- While it can be a hassle, requiring a signature with your delivery can provide a great extra layer of security. Be sure to check with the delivery company on their policy for packages that are not signed for; they may return it to the sender after a certain number of attempts.
- Missing a package? Always double check with your neighbors. Sometimes, your package may not be stolen, just simply at the wrong address.
And remember that if your package has been stolen, please reach out to us to file a report!
About Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff is the largest law enforcement agency in Contra Costa with over 1,100 sworn and professional employees dedicated to providing the highest level of law enforcement and customer services.
The Office of the Sheriff offers a full range of services to over 1,000,000 residents in the 715-square mile county. The duties and mission of the Sheriff’s Office are unlike most police agencies. Responsibilities include unincorporated area policing, contract cities (Danville, Lafayette, and Orinda) and special districts, air support (helicopters), marine patrol, dispatch, investigations, coroners, county detention facilities, custody alternative, court security, forensic services, police academy, and Office of Emergency Services.
Here are some annual Office of the Sheriff statistics:
- Over 600,000 calls for service come into Dispatch.
- Nearly 60,000 of them are 911 calls.
- Over 26,000 people are booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.
- Over 20,000 incident reports are written.
The Office of the Sheriff works closely with our many partners in the community to include residents, businesses, schools, leaders, and private and governmental agencies to prevent crime and improve the quality of life. We are proud to be of service to Contra Costa County.
