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Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

bbc.com

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Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#101

Post by callalex »

matthew-wegner wrote: post #69
lathiat wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Surprised Ring doesn’t have a buffer to pull from to go back in time for motion detection (typing on phone or I would go look). Blue Iris and most NVR software lets you specify an arbitrary length buffer. It eats some memory, but nice to get context. I very much doubt Ring exposes an RTSP stream locally though.

This is a perfect example of yet another valley startup that has eschewed industry standards to the detriment of functionality, but mastered convenience and marketing. I hate that it works so well, but the market says I'm the one who is wrong.

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#102

Post by nikanj »

austhrow743 wrote: post #72
nikanj wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Public shaming.

That stopped working when homeless people became invisible to us.

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#103

Post by mantas »

callalex wrote: post #88
briandear wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> petty theft doesn't really cause that much damage Sure it does. Insurance rates. Compare rates for San Francisco vs. Houston for comprehensive coverage. Or San Francisco vs. Cupertino for that matter. Every smash and grab costs everyone more money. Prop 47 is a big culprit. These thieves can cause $1000 in damage to a car, but their prosecution is pretty much pointless. If we want to talk cost benefit analysis, pro…

Why is this comment, which is sourced and well argued, greyed out without a single response?

Because many people wants no people in jails. Can't stop people from committing crime? Well, don't put them in a jail and bam, you have no people in jails!

Who cares about what someone feels after they get robbed. Public feeling safe does not register on RoI report.

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#104

Post by mcny »

grozzle wrote: post #85
thaumasiotes wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm pretty sure Amazon explicitly offers the option to "group my items into as few shipments as possible, even if it takes longer".

As few as possible is sometimes still more than one, though.

Why does this happen? Are the items coming from multiple Amazon locations?

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#105

Post by dgzl »

krzat wrote: post #95
dgzl wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've looked into one-way package recieving devices before, and I think something would be best integrated into the person's home wall or door. A system like USPS mail drop boxes would be ideal.

What if a thief decides to deliver himself into your home?

You would protect this system like any other entry to the home: with a lock.

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#106

Post by masonic »

lamarpye wrote: post #29
gojomo wrote: 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.

  it might not even be a crime
The relevant question becomes, "is a crime that is not prosecuted materially different from a non-crime?"

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#107

Post by test1235 »

ajdhsjakafjt wrote: post #51

In Germany the packages are usually given to a neighbor. Amazon's own delivery service sometimes leaves it in front of your door, but mostly in houses with multiple flats. When it's gone, they just deliver again. Does it work differently in the US, so are packages usually left at the doorstep?

here in UK, you get a few options: you can leave it with a neighbour, or specify a place to leave it, or try again at another time, and probably a few more I forget.

I'd be surprised if I saw anyone's parcel just sitting on their front doorstep

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#108

Post by alpaca128 »

setquk wrote: post #93
nikanj wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Social credit score system in China takes this role I understand. People seem not to like that idea however.

Such systems have many problems, one of them being that they're fully automated, and mistakes WILL be made. One day you wake up with a ruined social score because someone who looked a bit like you was witnessed by a camera selling drugs or something. Have fun trying to correct that before someone decides to look up your score. Not to mention all the potential for abuse.

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#109

Post by gpvos »

thaumasiotes wrote: post #84
eropple wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a really good idea. The annoying thing in Boston is that you might have two packages from the same order (looking at you, Amazon) arrive at different times on the same day.

I'm pretty sure Amazon explicitly offers the option to "group my items into as few shipments as possible, even if it takes longer".

I searched for that option recently and couldn't find it. Could you give the exact path through the menus?

Re: Amazon uses dummy parcels to catch thieves

#110

Post by mantale »

gojomo wrote: post #77
stickfigure wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why isn't caning a reasonable solution? Serious question.

There's a strong cultural bias against corporal punishment in the US, but it should probably be studied, perhaps as an option a mature defendant can choose in lieu of another fine/imprisonment, but is never forced to take. If the practice actually deterred crime, without leaving any lasting physical or psychological damage – other than an aversion to re-offending – it deserves unemotional consideration.

Corporal punishments don't even work on children, what make you think it will work on adults?
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