The holiday season brings a steady stream of boxes to front doors across the country, and thieves know it. Packages left on a porch for hours are an easy grab, and a house full of new electronics and wrapped gifts can be a tempting target. The good news is that a few simple changes to how you receive packages and how your home looks from the street can make you a much harder target.
The Short Version
- Control where and when packages arrive instead of letting them sit unattended.
- Video doorbells, smart locks and lockable delivery boxes add layers of protection.
- Your garage, empty boxes and social media posts can all tip off a burglar.
- Know how your homeowners or renters policy and your credit card might help if something is stolen.
Part One: Keeping Packages Safe
Choose where your packages land
The simplest defense is making sure packages don’t sit in plain view. Most major shippers let you set delivery preferences, reschedule, or redirect a package once it’s on the way. Look for these options before you check out:
- Ship to your workplace, if your employer allows it
- Use a parcel locker or a hold-for-pickup location at a nearby store or shipping center
- Ask a trusted neighbor who’s home during the day to accept packages for you
- Request signature confirmation for expensive items
- Schedule delivery for a day you’ll be home
Let technology do the watching
A video doorbell lets you see who’s at the door and talk to them from your phone, wherever you are. You can ask a driver to tuck a box out of sight, and the camera itself is a deterrent. Some smart locks and garage systems can grant one-time access so a carrier can place packages inside. A lockable delivery box on the porch is another option that works without any app at all.
Track every order
Turn on shipping notifications from retailers and carriers so you know when something is out for delivery and when it lands. The less time a package sits outside, the better. If you’ll be away, pause shipments or have them held.
Check Your Wallet
Some credit cards include purchase protection that may reimburse you for items stolen shortly after you buy them. Terms and limits vary, so call your card issuer to find out what applies before you need it. Retailers may also replace a stolen item if you report it promptly.
Part Two: Protecting the Home Itself
Once gifts are inside, the goal shifts to making your home look occupied, secure and not worth the effort.
- Lock up every time. It sounds obvious, but many break-ins happen through unlocked doors and windows. Make locking up part of your routine, even when you’re just running out for an hour.
- Treat the garage as a weak spot. Don’t leave your garage remote in a car parked outside. Use a deadbolt on the door between the garage and the house, and avoid storing gifts in a garage with windows.
- Fake a full house. Long, dark evenings make an empty home obvious. Put lights on timers or smart plugs, and ask a neighbor to park in your driveway now and then while you’re away.
- Keep gifts out of sight. A tree full of presents framed in the front window is a billboard. Close blinds at night or store wrapped gifts in a closet until the big day.
- Break down the boxes. A curbside pile of TV and laptop boxes advertises what’s inside. Cut them down and fold them inside out, or drop them at a recycling center.
- Post later, not live. Share travel photos and gift-opening moments after you’re home, and keep location settings off for posts while you’re away.
Traveling for the Holidays?
Stop or hold your mail and newspaper, arrange for snow removal if you live in a cold climate, and give a trusted neighbor a way to reach you. An overflowing mailbox and an unshoveled driveway are easy giveaways.
If Something Does Get Stolen
Even careful planning can’t stop every thief. If a package disappears or your home is broken into, act quickly.
- File a police report. Retailers, card issuers and insurers often ask for one.
- Save your evidence. Keep doorbell footage, order confirmations, receipts and tracking details.
- Contact the seller and shipper. Many will replace or refund items reported stolen within a set window.
- Call your agent. They can help you decide whether filing a claim makes sense.
How Insurance May Respond
Homeowners and renters policies typically include personal property coverage that may apply to theft, including items stolen from your porch in some cases. Whether a claim is worth filing often comes down to your deductible. If a stolen package is worth less than your deductible, you’d likely recover more through the retailer or your credit card.
For a burglary involving electronics, jewelry or a pile of gifts, the numbers can add up fast. Keep in mind that many policies have special limits for certain categories, like jewelry, and you may need scheduled coverage for high-value items. Coverage depends on your insurer, your policy and your state.
The holidays are a great time to update your home inventory. A quick video walk-through of each room, including new gifts, can make any future claim far smoother.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does homeowners insurance cover stolen packages?
It may, as part of personal property coverage, but your deductible applies. For lower-cost items, retailer refunds or credit card protection are often a better route.
Do renters have the same protection?
Renters insurance generally includes personal property coverage that may apply to theft. Your landlord’s policy covers the building, not your belongings.
Should I add coverage for expensive gifts?
If you’re giving or receiving jewelry, watches or other high-value items, ask your agent whether scheduling them on your policy makes sense.
Give Yourself Peace of Mind
A quick policy review before the holidays can confirm your belongings are protected. Contact Callicott Insurance Agency to check your limits and deductibles before the gifts start piling up.
This article is for general information only. Coverage varies by insurer, policy and state; review your own policy or talk with a licensed agent about your situation.