Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves • Hacker News Board

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#351

Post by blacksmith_tb » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 6:06 PM UTC

ergothus wrote: post #342

tivert wrote: post #256

If you're concerned about package thieves, just buy an outdoor cabinet and put it next to your door with a note asking that packages be placed in it. I use an Ikea Josef: https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/storage-furniture/outdoo... You don't even need a lock for it. If you can get the deliverymen to consistently place packages in it, the thieves will have no idea if there's actually a package at your door to steal…

In the video we see many people stealing from porches with video cameras, and the author mentions that the police didn't take action even with video evidence. While I think your suggestion would reduce the chance of theft, I think you overestimate the accuracy of the risk-benefit analysis happening in the thieves' minds, as well as the actual risk involved. I mean, the activity is already dumb from a risk analysis po…

I don't think the video evidence is meant to help the police (or, obviously, to deter the thieves), but it's useful for requesting a replacement from the shipper.

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#352

Post by leereeves » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 6:06 PM UTC

madengr wrote: post #341

_verandaguy wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are they gonna do, steal a house ?

In some states, once you get a renter, it is very hard to evict them. Many abuse this.

Once. After you get an eviction on your record few landlords will rent to you again.

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#353

Post by stale2002 » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 6:07 PM UTC

candiodari wrote: post #211

LinuxBender wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does Amazon and Google get away with it? When you put their listening devices in your home, do you sign a legally binding contract? Honest question, I've never bought one. If a contract is sufficient, does it have to be signed in writing or witnessed? If not, then could he have a sign at his door stating that acquiring the package provides consent to monitoring? Is there a lawyer here that could answer those ques…

(not legal advice and so on) One of the first rules of the legal system is that you don't get to violate the law. This INCLUDES the situation where someone else violates the law first. In many places this principle is repeated. For instance, you DO NOT get to bump someone's car if they run a red light for instance. (and no, EVEN the situation where you literally had no choice still isn't an excuse. There is only the…

> So the thief (or whoever) can sue this person

Ah, see, but lack of enforcement from the police goes both ways!

If the police are unwilling to go after petty theft cases, why would they bother with the even smaller crime of "wiretapping" thieves?

Is the opportunist thief likely to have the resources to go after you for this? Almost certainly not.

And even then, it is additionally unlikely that a judge and jury would convict and punish someone. Stories, narratives, and being perceived to be "in the right" go a long way in the criminal justice system, which is enforced by people, not the legal words on a piece of paper.

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#354

Post by dingaling » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 6:07 PM UTC

mcphage wrote: post #74

ragebol wrote: post #61

In the Netherlands, when I order a package and no one's at home when it's delivered, it either gets delivered to my neighbors or to the post office, with a note of where to pick it up. It's never left at my door AFAIK. How is this not an option in the US?

Generally because people don't want it. Shipping used to be a lot stricter about signatures, etc, but people usually aren't home when the packages get delivered, and package theft isn't a significant enough problem to make the extra security worth the inconvenience.

> but people usually aren't home when the packages get delivered

I still don't understand why this hasn't been 'disrupted' by a company providing evening deliveries. They could do business delivery during the afternoon and then switch to residential.

Nightcall! I'll even throw a name in for free.

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#355

Post by snazz » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 6:08 PM UTC

scarejunba wrote: post #344

EForEndeavour wrote: post #307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Better yet, we could wall in the criminals and declare the inside of their "cells" to be the outside, thus walling them out.

Nah, to do that you need to curtail people’s freedom. What I’m proposing is simply that we privatize large parts of society and exclude people from the private areas based on their tendency to be bad actors. It’s not about restricting freedom. It’s about enabling free safe association for everyone who opts in. Like a massive HOA.

I think “denying food, shelter, and water” counts as curtailing people’s freedom.

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#356

Post by jahlove » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 6:08 PM UTC

gkfasdfasdf wrote: post #261

Tangent, but my son and I used Mark's video on building a pinewood derby car. He gives a list of 7-8 things to do to your car in order of effectiveness. A theme in his video is that the car doesn't have to look fancy to be fast. We implemented most of his recommendations and didn't have time to paint or decorate the car. We ended up winning and we were the most unadorned car in the pack. TLDR: Mark is legit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RjJtO51ykY

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#357

Post by quotha » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 6:08 PM UTC

usermcuserface wrote: post #108

binarymax wrote: post #2

I've had fantasies of much worse punishments for package thieves, like a paint gun sentinel. I'd buy this if he'd manufacture it.

Bear in mind... these people know where you live.

Hard to believe how many people are concerned by that. So a cowardly thief gets glitter bombed and you are worried that they will come back!! Imagine how much worse it would get for them.

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#358

Post by usefulcat » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 6:10 PM UTC

robocat wrote: post #290

kitd wrote: post #226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the one hand, I suspect this type of crime is more the realm of opportunists rather than hard-core criminals who would exact revenge. On the other, glitter is actually quite polluting, so my preference would be some means of spraying the thief with brightly coloured dye.

> brightly coloured dye So that the unwitting landlord can be penalised as well?

That's what a deposit is for.

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#359

Post by rdtsc » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 6:10 PM UTC

quotha wrote: post #246

rdtsc wrote: post #173

This needs careful consideration if you ever decide to do it. Depending on the local criminal culture they could exact revenge. Then also know where you live and can do a lot worse things than taking a package. Police might later be involved but it might not be worth it. You are dealing with people who have no qualms stealing so it's not too crazy to expect other rash and illegal acts from them. I can also see some i…

I think what needs more careful consideration is deciding whether or not to steal parcels!

The point was that the package owner can make the situation worse for themselves by engaging in a revenge scheme. It highly depends on the local criminal culture. I some countries, I can see a gang deciding that the homeowner needs to be "taught a lesson". Police might catch them even, but the package owner might be in the hospital or morgue by then.

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#360

Post by dkonofalski » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 6:10 PM UTC

EForEndeavour wrote: post #313

jboy55 wrote: post #272

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sadly, a video of a random figure with face obscured throwing a rock through your car window isn't going to get the police involved. Even with a GPS location of someone you pranked with a package, if there's no evidence directly tying the two incidents, the police aren't going to waste resources doing CSI on it. They'll just write you a police report so you can get your insurance paid.

Disturbingly, the accidental message of this glitterbomb booby-trap video is that you will probably not face legal consequences for stealing packages from peoples' property in broad daylight, so even the best security cameras are effectively useless.

That was my takeaway from this. It just gives the package thieves more reason to do it because, even if they do get caught on video, there's nothing that's going to be done about it.