Holiday Package Theft and Home Camera Awareness

Holiday shopping can mean more packages arriving while people are at work, running errands, or traveling. Package theft is a real concern, but the available national numbers require careful wording. A May 2025 white paper from the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General estimated that at least 58 million packages were stolen in the United States during 2024. The report also noted that there is no single national source that tracks every package theft, so estimates can vary.

The most useful plan is not built around an unverified city ranking or a promise that one device will stop every theft. It combines delivery choices, timely alerts, appropriate camera coverage, and a clear response if a package appears to be missing.

Start With the Delivery Itself

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service advises people not to leave packages at the door for extended periods. Its recommendations include arranging for prompt pickup, using Hold for Pickup when available, and requesting Signature Confirmation for important shipments. The USPS Office of Inspector General also points to real-time delivery notifications, parcel lockers, and other flexible delivery options as practical ways to reduce the time a package sits unattended.

You can build those recommendations into a simple routine:

• Turn on tracking and delivery notifications from the retailer or carrier.
• Arrange for someone you trust to collect a package when you cannot be home.
• Use an eligible pickup location, package locker, or hold service when available.
• Consider a signature requirement for important or high-value deliveries.
• Retrieve delivered packages as soon as reasonably possible.

Carrier services, fees, and eligibility vary, so check the options offered for each shipment.

What a Video Doorbell Can Do

A compatible video doorbell can add awareness at the front entry. Depending on the Alarm.com model, service package, and notification settings, features can include person or visitor alerts, live video, saved event clips, package alerts, and two-way audio. Package alerts are supported on specific Alarm.com doorbell models and require the appropriate setup.

If you receive an alert while someone is at the door, two-way audio lets you speak through the doorbell from the app. Recorded clips can also help establish when a delivery arrived and what activity the camera captured afterward.

A video doorbell does not guarantee that a theft will be prevented, that every person will be identifiable, or that a stolen item will be recovered. It records only what falls within its field of view and according to its recording and notification settings. Placement, lighting, internet connectivity, and the selected equipment can all affect what is captured.

When the Front Door View Is Not Enough

A front-door camera cannot show an area outside its field of view. If carriers commonly leave packages near a garage, side gate, driveway, or another entrance, an exterior camera may provide useful coverage of that location or the route leading to it.

The right camera layout depends on the property. A camera should be positioned for the area that needs to be seen, with attention to image quality, lighting, and neighboring privacy. Compatible systems may also offer activity zones, person or vehicle detection, and privacy masking. Available features depend on the camera and configuration.

Additional cameras can provide another angle, but more cameras do not automatically create complete coverage. Each view should have a defined purpose and should be tested after installation.

Alerts and Optional Monitoring Are Different

Depending on the installed equipment and service package, compatible cameras, locks, lighting, and security controls can be managed through the Alarm.com app. Homeowners can use the app to view cameras, review saved clips, and manage supported alerts and devices.

Camera notifications should not be described as automatic emergency dispatch. When you choose 24/7 security monitoring, compatible security alarm signals can be sent to a monitoring center under the terms of the selected service. That is different from having someone watch every camera notification. Security monitoring is optional, and available capabilities depend on the equipment and account setup.

A Practical Package and Camera Check

Before holiday deliveries increase, review how packages actually reach your home:

1. Confirm the locations where carriers usually leave packages.
2. Check whether the doorbell camera can clearly see the delivery area without relying on digital zoom.
3. Review alert zones, notification schedules, and package-alert settings supported by the equipment.
4. Test the view in daytime and after dark to see whether lighting affects the image.
5. Decide who will retrieve packages when no one is home.
6. Use pickup, locker, hold, or signature options for shipments that should not be left unattended.

This review is useful for houses, townhomes, and apartments, but the appropriate equipment and delivery options will differ by property and carrier.

If a Package Appears to Be Missing

Start by checking the delivery confirmation, delivery photo if one was provided, and any alternate location listed by the carrier. Ask household members or a trusted neighbor whether the package was collected. Then contact the retailer and carrier for their applicable missing-package process.

If the shipment was handled through the U.S. Postal Service and you believe it was stolen, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service provides an online Report a Crime option. You may also contact local law enforcement when appropriate. Preserve relevant camera clips promptly because retention periods vary by system and service plan.

Nevada residents can also read how state law treats porch piracy in our post on Nevada Assembly Bill 272.

Talk With Sting Alarm About Home Camera Coverage

Sting Alarm has served Las Vegas since 2003 and now serves homeowners in Phoenix. We provide professionally installed home security systems, video doorbells, and exterior cameras, with optional 24/7 security monitoring.

If you would like help reviewing the delivery areas and approaches around your home, request a free quote from Sting Alarm. Call (702) 737-8464 in Las Vegas or (602) 431-1300 in Phoenix.