Georgia is the 17th most at-risk state for porch pirates, survey shows

Online shopping shows no signs of slowing down this year, but that means more deliveries and more opportunities for porch pirates to swoop in — including in Georgia.

Inc. magazine reported on data from Adobe Analytics that showed online shopping is expected to reach a record $910 billion in the U.S. this year. It’s projected to reach $207 billion just in November and December.

With all that money in e-commerce holiday sales, there are many packages that will be arriving at front doors.

An analysis from CCTV Camera World ranked each U.S. state most by their risk for larceny, a category of crime that includes package theft. Using FBI data through 2020, the security cameras and IP camera systems company evaluated where each state ranked for larceny, which is the most common form of theft in the country.

Georgia ranked No. 17 in the country. The Peach State has 1,780 crimes per 100,000 state residents. The top spot for larceny is D.C., with 3,775 crimes reported per 100,000 residents. It’s followed by Massachusetts and Idaho.

Georgia is among the 14 states that have passed or are considering laws to penalize porch piracy. Georgia’s law went into effect in July. Porch piracy, which is defined as removing three or more pieces of mail from the porch, steps or immediate area of any home of three or more different mailboxes or addresses, is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Of course, it’s best to avoid the thefts in the first place. CNET has several tips on how you can prevent porch piracy.

Use package tracking: Major delivery companies including FedEx, UPS and the US Postal Service, among others, offer tracking. Take advantage of this so that you can get updates on where your items are. You can receive text alerts when your package arrives.

Install a video doorbell: Using a video doorbell allows you to see who is at your doorstep when the bell rings. They also have a two-way audio feed, so you can speak to the person at your door. Potential thieves may have second thoughts if they see a security camera.

Make your home security system obvious: Many homes have home security systems installed, but making it obvious to outsiders could deter thieves. A 2013 study found that 83% of burglars said they would try to determine if an alarm was present before attempting theft. If there was an alarm present, 60% would seek another target.