MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. — Sheriff James M. Gannon is reminding Morris County residents to take precautions against package theft as online shopping surges during the holiday season.
Package theft, often referred to as “porch piracy,” continues to be a growing concern locally and nationwide, the sheriff’s office said. The awareness initiative is part of a broader campaign coordinated by the National Sheriffs’ Association to promote preventive steps that can help protect deliveries.
“While the vast majority of packages make it to customers without any issue, we know how frustrating it can be when criminals get in the way,” said Gilad Solnik, Amazon’s director of Worldwide Security Operations. “Amazon has many features and technology we’ve built into our delivery experience to help keep customers’ packages secure this holiday season and throughout the year.”
In partnership with Amazon, the sheriff’s office highlighted several recommended strategies:
- Track packages in real time using Amazon’s Map Tracking feature on the website or mobile app.
- Provide drivers with instructions for a hidden or less visible drop-off location.
- Use one of the more than 25,000 Amazon pickup locations to avoid home delivery.
- Take advantage of Amazon Share Tracking so trusted friends or family can retrieve packages when no one is home.
- Review delivery confirmation photos to confirm where packages were placed.
- Select a preferred Same-Day Delivery time window in areas where the option is available.
Residents who believe they are victims of package theft are urged to immediately report it to their local police department, contact the delivery company’s customer service, and check with neighbors in case a package was mistakenly delivered or someone witnessed suspicious activity.
The sheriff’s office said it remains committed to working with residents and partners like Amazon to reduce theft during the busy holiday period.
More package security tips are available at Amazon’s Package Protection resource page.
