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Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

bbc.com

31–40 of 142 posts

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#31
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I often wondered what's the point of that. I received the delivery email, I am still not at home, what would a picture do that the email doesn't?

Never had that experience, but I presume to prove it was delivered?

Photos also prevent customers taking advantage of companies who are ready to refund or replace “stolen” packages.

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amazon and others now send you a picture of the package on your doorstep, so I guess they'd let you know?

I often wondered what's the point of that. I received the delivery email, I am still not at home, what would a picture do that the email doesn't?

One nice thing about the photos is that when they deliver to the neighbor's house by mistake, you can see from the photo that that's where it is and that it hasn't been stolen.

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#33
post #27

I wonder why stings/bait-items aren't used more often, when an area is facing a rash of specific kinds of crime, like bike theft, parked-car smash-and-grabs, and package theft. It's often a small number of violators – sometimes professional – who've been emboldened by early successes to scale up. So just a few stings, with adequate follow-through prosecution, could have a highly-leveraged effect on the overall rate.

Probably because it is work and the police don't care. In California with Prop 47, it might not even be a crime to steal packages.

" In California with Prop 47, it might not even be a crime to steal packages."

Good thing California doesn't make laws and regulations related to packages and mail, the USPS does, so it is still a federal crime to steal packages.

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#34
post #27

I wonder why stings/bait-items aren't used more often, when an area is facing a rash of specific kinds of crime, like bike theft, parked-car smash-and-grabs, and package theft. It's often a small number of violators – sometimes professional – who've been emboldened by early successes to scale up. So just a few stings, with adequate follow-through prosecution, could have a highly-leveraged effect on the overall rate.

I know a family friend who works in internal investigations at $PACKAGE_DELIVERY_CORP, and this kind of sting is nothing new. You just don’t hear about it.

Disclosure: I work at AWS but know nothing about Amazon delivery

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#35
post #28

I haven't had any packages stolen for the last few years. We have a large "toy box" on the front porch/deck that has a padlock on it. When expecting deliveries, we just leave the lock unlocked and leave a note to put the delivery in the box and lock it. So far, so good! I can't say the same for my neighbor though. He was hit last week, and is now going to build a box. It was less than $60 to make (3/4" plywood, 2x4's…

If it is not heavy enough, just dump some rocks in the bottom.

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#36
post #28

I haven't had any packages stolen for the last few years. We have a large "toy box" on the front porch/deck that has a padlock on it. When expecting deliveries, we just leave the lock unlocked and leave a note to put the delivery in the box and lock it. So far, so good! I can't say the same for my neighbor though. He was hit last week, and is now going to build a box. It was less than $60 to make (3/4" plywood, 2x4's…

I'm surprised more people in single homes don't do this. I've never needed it, but when I've had home milk delivery the boxes always have a place for a lock in case you want to use it - and that's just for milk!

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#37
post #28

I haven't had any packages stolen for the last few years. We have a large "toy box" on the front porch/deck that has a padlock on it. When expecting deliveries, we just leave the lock unlocked and leave a note to put the delivery in the box and lock it. So far, so good! I can't say the same for my neighbor though. He was hit last week, and is now going to build a box. It was less than $60 to make (3/4" plywood, 2x4's…

Makes one wonder if this is one of the issues behind Amazon and Ring+Rekognition rumors. I don't think this is the main driver (they'd sell a lot regardless, if one is to believe neighbors on NextDoor), but it definitely would be a nice bonus (to make package theft a thing of the past, for all intents and purposes).

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#38
post #27

I wonder why stings/bait-items aren't used more often, when an area is facing a rash of specific kinds of crime, like bike theft, parked-car smash-and-grabs, and package theft. It's often a small number of violators – sometimes professional – who've been emboldened by early successes to scale up. So just a few stings, with adequate follow-through prosecution, could have a highly-leveraged effect on the overall rate.

Probably because it is work and the police don't care. In California with Prop 47, it might not even be a crime to steal packages.

Why is this comment being downvoted?

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#39
post #22

On the other hand, If you have any used motor oil or hazardous waste to dispose of, you can place it in an Amazon box and leave it on your doorstep.

Pretty much guaranteeing improper disposal. I highly doubt anyone who steals packages off doorsteps is going to bother to dispose of substances like that correctly.

I had a package stolen a few weeks back, for the first time as far as I know. It was Disney Baby Swaddles. Guy was pretty derro (dodgy) looking guy. I hope he enjoyed his swaddles.

Caught him on my Ring camera sadly my front door is an alcove that is about 1m deep so the motion detection only triggers at the last second. Thus I only got him as he was turning around and got the side of his face and not the front.

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#40
post #27

I wonder why stings/bait-items aren't used more often, when an area is facing a rash of specific kinds of crime, like bike theft, parked-car smash-and-grabs, and package theft. It's often a small number of violators – sometimes professional – who've been emboldened by early successes to scale up. So just a few stings, with adequate follow-through prosecution, could have a highly-leveraged effect on the overall rate.

It's the adequate follow-through prosecution that's the problem.

Fines? Can't get blood from a stone. Jailtime? The cost-benefit analysis doesn't support that, prison time is expensive and petty theft doesn't really cause that much damage.

I have no solution to offer here.

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