Have you ever eagerly awaited a package, only to find it mysteriously vanished from your doorstep?
In our era of frequent deliveries, tales of packages being swiped from porches are all too common.
But what’s less known are the ingenious ways some people are combating these thefts.
Take Matt Coats, for instance, who, after several incidents of package theft at his Portland, Oregon home, decided to take a unique stand against these so-called ‘porch pirates.’
Coats, who had moved to Portland, found himself repeatedly victimized by these thieves.
In an interview with KGW News, he described the experience as deeply violating, expressing his frustration by saying,
“I think the worst part about porch piracy is just feeling so violated. To have somebody come up into your space and take something that’s yours.”
When yet another package disappeared, Coats knew he had to act.
Predicting another theft was imminent, Coats concocted a plan for some ‘sweet revenge.’
He filled an REI box with his dog’s poop and left it on his porch, curious to see if it would entice another unsuspecting thief.
His plan came to fruition after three days.
A porch security camera captured the moment a thief, after stealing a light projector from a neighbor’s yard, grabbed the booby-trapped package from Coats’ porch.
The thief’s spree didn’t end there; they also took a package containing $120 worth of clothing from another neighbor.
While Coats couldn’t witness the thief’s reaction upon discovering the package’s contents, he felt satisfied with his ploy.
He learned from a friend that the package was discarded about four blocks from his house.
Coats believed that even though he didn’t see the thief’s reaction, the lesson was likely learned.
Coats isn’t stopping with just one prank.
He plans to continue making life difficult for porch pirates, with ideas like filling an Amazon package with tree trimmings and dish soap, and another with a tree stump.
His approach to dealing with porch theft is lighthearted yet impactful.
He told KGW News, “If we’re going to be annoyed, why not have a little fun with it? Why not make their lives kind of a pain too?”
Besides his pranks, Coats has an added advantage.
His security camera captures footage of the porch pirates, which he has shared online.
While his methods are unique, they might not be everyone’s choice for protecting their deliveries.
The Portland Police Bureau suggests alternative ways to safeguard your packages.
These include shipping packages to a location where someone can receive them, holding your deliveries while you’re away, and giving specific instructions to delivery workers to keep packages out of sight.
They also say:
“As a good neighbor, be alert and report all crime and suspicious activity.”
Check out the video below to see more on this funny porch pirate story!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
