If someone were to ask you what you think the number one crime in America is, how would you answer? You would not be alone if you answered with violent crimes like assault and robbery. The human brain normally associates crime with violence. Yet statistics tell a quite different story. Based on the latest numbers, the top crime in America right now is package theft.
According to the latest SafeWise State of Safety survey data, 37% of Americans report having been a victim of package theft.
Cybercrime comes in a close second at a rate of 33%. Third place goes to property crimes at 27%. Surprisingly, just 14% of survey respondents reported experience with violent crime.
So what is the deal with both package theft and cybercrime? Unfortunately, both crimes are easy to pull off. They are low-risk crimes to those who commit them.
Package Theft: Quick and Silent
It goes without saying that package thieves are not looking to get caught. The same is true for any type of criminal. So when a person’s chosen form of crime involves stealing, he wants to be able to do it quickly and silently. Package theft fits the bill.
Breaking into cars makes noise. Kicking in front doors can draw attention from neighbors. No matter how you slice it, most property crimes involve some amount of noise and require at least a little bit of time and effort.
By comparison, a package can be swiped effortlessly. It can be done without making any noise. Most importantly, a package can be swiped in seconds.
Cybercrime: Theft in the Background
Cybercrime is just as attractive because it can be conducted in the background. A skilled hacker can steal tens of thousands from unsuspecting victims and be long gone before those victims even know they have been robbed.
A sophisticated hacker can target a major corporation and walk away with millions.
The downside to cybercrime is that it requires some level of technical sophistication. Even when criminals invest in things like malware-as-a-service, they still need to know how to apply the malware.
If a criminal wants to steal someone’s identity, they need to have the technical knowledge to do so in an undetectable way.
The beauty of package theft is that it doesn’t require any special skills or knowledge. All you need is a bit of audacity and the ability to move quickly.
That makes package theft more accessible to criminals. But I suppose this doesn’t matter much to either porch piracy or cybercrime victims.
Victims only care about the fact that they have been hit.
Stopping Package Theft
So now the important question is how to stop both types of crimes. Let us begin with package theft. The easiest way to guarantee you will never have a package stolen is to make arrangements so that packages are never left unattended on the front porch.
There are so many options that there really isn’t a reason to continue allowing your packages to remain vulnerable.
He is just a few:
- Protected Delivery – Many delivery providers are now willing to work with customers to arrange for protected delivery. For instance, combining home automation with package theft protection offers the possibility of remotely opening the garage door so that a delivery driver can leave packages inside.
- Locker Delivery – Consumers can have packages delivered to public locker locations in most major cities. If public lockers are not available, a homeowner can purchase an individual locker that gets bolted to the front porch.
- Alternate Addresses – Arranging for an alternate delivery address makes it possible to have packages delivered to a friend, neighbor, or even the workplace.
- Delivery Scheduling – It’s even possible to schedule delivery days and times with some providers. You arrange for delivery on a day you know you will be home. Then you simply wait for the package to arrive.
Of course, there are also hardware solutions consumers can take a look at. Brand-name security systems, like those installed by Vivint Home Security, offer a number of different devices that can help stop package theft.
Video Surveillance With Two-Way Audio
One of the best pieces of anti-theft hardware is the video surveillance camera with two-way audio. You can get them with a Vivint system.
A camera with two-way audio does more than just record video footage. First, it alerts a homeowner to someone approaching the house.
Second, it gives the homeowner the opportunity to communicate with whomever he is looking at. He can speak to the visitor through a smartphone app. The visitor can hear and respond accordingly.
Imagine being a package thief approaching a house. You suddenly hear a voice telling you to turn around and walk away. You have no idea whether the person is home or not. But now that you know you have been discovered, are you likely to proceed with the theft?
Stopping Cybercrime
Cybercrime is a bit more complex than package theft. Therefore, stopping it is also a bit more complicated. For most people, the starting point is paying attention to how financial information is transmitted.
For example, it is not a bad idea to shop online using prepaid debit cards. That way, bank account and credit card information is never divulged online. It’s also a good idea to use credit cards from issuers who constantly monitor activity and warn you if they suspect something amiss.
At home, a secure username and password should defend your Wi-Fi network. Never rely on router defaults. If possible, set up a home firewall. Outside the home, avoid logging on to public Wi-Fi networks. Try turning off your phone when you are at cafes and restaurants, too. This will prevent nearby hackers from accessing your phone unaware.
There is so much more about this topic that could be discussed. The most important takeaway is that both package theft and cybercrime are extremely popular with criminals because they are easy to pull off. It is no wonder they are the top two crimes in America right now.