Porch Pirates? Package Lockers and Lock Boxes That Deter Theft
Packages left in sight get taken. Cut the risk with free delivery settings, then add a bolted-down lock box a driver can drop into and a thief cannot open.
By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 7 min read
- Time
- 30 min
- Cost
- $50-$150
- Difficulty
- Easy
In this guide
Quick answer
Porch thieves take packages that sit in view and unattended. Cut the risk with free steps: track deliveries, pick a hidden drop spot, send valuables to a pickup point or require a signature. Then add a lock box with a drop slot, bolted down, that a driver can fill and only you can open. It deters most thieves, though a loose box a thief can carry off, or pry open, is not a real answer.
Free fix vs. permanent fix
Track it, hide it, or send it somewhere safer
- Turn on carrier and retailer delivery alerts, so you know when it lands
- Add delivery notes, such as leave it at the side door or behind the planter
- Send valuable orders to a pickup point or a locker, or ask for a signature
- Ask a neighbor to bring packages in if you are away
How long it lasts: As long as you keep it up. It depends on your delivery habits and on carriers following your notes, so a package can still sit in view when a driver does not.
A lockable package delivery box with a drop slot
A thief needs to see a package and grab it fast. A drop-slot box puts the package out of sight and behind a lock, so the grab-and-go no longer works. It does not depend on you being home or on a carrier following a note, and the free steps still help alongside it.
What to get: Lockable package delivery box with a drop slot, bolt-down
How long it lasts: Years. A steel box that is bolted down needs no daily effort.
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What you'll need
-
Phone with carrier and retailer apps
For delivery alerts, delivery notes and rescheduling
You have it -
Tape measure
Measure your usual packages and the porch spot you plan to use
You have it -
Cordless drill and bits
To bolt the box down; check the manual for anchor size
You have it - Our pick Illustration
Package delivery lock box with a drop slot
Bolts to the porch; the lasting fix
- Illustration
Smaller lockable delivery box
A lighter, lower-cost box for typical small parcels
- Illustration
Video doorbell camera
Optional: records who comes to the door and alerts your phone
Why it happens
Packages sit in view from the street
A box on the front step is easy to see and grab in seconds. Thieves look for easy ones from the sidewalk or a car.
No one is home for hours
Deliveries arrive during work hours, and the box can sit for a long time. The longer it sits, the more likely someone takes it.
Drivers leave it where it is easy, not where it is safe
Without a note, a driver drops the package at the closest door. A note and a better spot cost nothing and cut the odds.
Packages that advertise what is inside
Big retailer boxes or a branded TV box tell a thief there is something worth taking.
Try this first (free)
Do these in order, starting with the simplest.
-
1. Turn on delivery alerts and add notes
Tool used: Phone with carrier and retailer appsSet text or app alerts for each carrier and retailer, such as USPS Informed Delivery, UPS My Choice and FedEx Delivery Manager. Add a note such as leave it at the side door or behind the planter.
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2. Send valuable orders to a safer place
Use a pickup point or locker, hold the package at the carrier location, or ship it to work. Ask for a signature on high-value orders, so it is not left on the step.
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3. Pick a drop spot out of view
A side door, a gate, behind a planter or a bench works better than the front step. Keep it near the house, out of line of sight from the street.
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4. Measure your usual packages
Tool used: Tape measureMeasure a few of the boxes you get most often, and the spot where a box would sit. Write the largest size down. A box that is too small just pushes the package back onto the step.
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5. Report it and keep the proof
If a package goes missing, tell the retailer first, since many replace it. Then tell the carrier, and file a police report if it keeps happening. Do not confront a thief.
When free fixes aren't enough
If you have no spot out of view, no safe pickup point or you get several deliveries a week, free steps stop being enough. A lock box with a drop slot is the part that works when you are not home and the driver follows your note. It will not stop a thief who can carry off the whole box, so bolt it down. If you rent, check with the landlord before you drill into the porch.
Buy the fix
Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.
| Pick | Product | Fixes | Who it's for | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best pick | Lockable package delivery box with a drop slot, bolt-down | a package left in view, where a thief can take it in seconds | Anyone who gets packages when nobody is home and has a porch spot to mount a box. | Check price |
| Budget pick | Smaller lockable delivery box for typical parcels | small parcels left on the step | People who mostly get small and medium parcels and want a lower-cost, lighter box. | Check price |
Lockable package delivery box with a drop slot, bolt-down
Fixes: a package left in view, where a thief can take it in seconds
Look for: A steel body and a lock, with a key or a combination you can reset; A drop slot or door large enough for the packages you actually get; Weatherproof construction and a way to bolt it to the porch or a wall; A lid that closes behind the package so it cannot be fished out.
- Who it's for
- Anyone who gets packages when nobody is home and has a porch spot to mount a box.
- Honest downside
- You rent and cannot drill, or you mostly get packages bigger than the box. Measure first.
Smaller lockable delivery box for typical parcels
Fixes: small parcels left on the step
Look for: A lock and a drop slot with a flap; A size that fits the packages you get most often; A way to chain or bolt it down.
- Who it's for
- People who mostly get small and medium parcels and want a lower-cost, lighter box.
- Honest downside
- You often get big boxes. They will not fit, and the driver will leave them on the step.
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How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on carrier delivery-option guides, police advice on package theft, product manuals for lock boxes, and what owners report in reviews. We do not test products by hand.
Measure the packages you really get
A box that is too small is the most common failure. Measure your five biggest recent boxes, and add a little room. Check the slot or door opening, and the inside depth, against those numbers. If most parcels are small but a few are big, ask big orders to go to a pickup point.
Make the box work with carriers
- Add a delivery note at checkout, such as put it in the lock box by the door.
- Put a clear sign on the box saying packages go inside.
- Place it where a driver can reach it without climbing steps or opening a gate.
- Do not block the door or a fire exit, and check the rules if you rent or live in an HOA.
What to skip
Fake or decoy packages, and confronting a thief
Decoy parcels, glitter bombs and other pranks can get you into legal trouble or put you at risk. Do not chase or face down anyone. Save the footage, report it and let the police handle it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop porch pirates?
Will drivers use my package lock box?
Can a thief just carry off a lock box?
What should I do if my package is stolen?
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