Porch Pirate Revenge is Best Served…or Maybe Not.
There are many ways to reduce risk of becoming a victim of porch pirates. Installing a good security camera and other measures are among the best ways to protect packages from porch pirate theft. But, sometimes, best laid plans don’t work and even with your video door camera, you discover someone has stolen your package.
What next? You take quick action: Check your video footage, talk to neighbors, then call the courier. You even file a report about your stolen package with local law enforcement and then a claim with your courier and the U.S. Postal Service.
Porch Pirate Booby Trap Boxes
But you’re still inconvenienced and your still out your delivery. So, what else can be done? After we some internet research, we found some common porch pirate traps:
- Decoy packages. These involve filling boxes (especially those with retailer branding) with kitty litter, rocks, and trash items and wrapping them to look like a delivery. The boxes are set out to lure porch pirates and intentionally put in prime view of cameras to capture footage of the theft.
- Sticky-packages. Putting glues or adhesives in strategic places on a box can serve to annoy a porch pirate.
- Glitter bombs. These require some planning, but when the porch pirate opens the package, glitter is released and they are showered with glitter. Presumably, they open the box while they’re still on your porch so they can’t get away without leaving a trail of sparkly evidence.
- Stink bombs. These also require some planning. A non-harmful, odor-emitting substance is opened into the box, quickly sealed, and then set out like the decoy package.
Are Porch Pirate Traps Legal?
First, any kind of device or trap that is planted or concealed and specifically used to cause bodily harm, injury, or death, is not legal. The law vary from city to city and state to state, so before deciding to set anything out, it’s best to do due diligence and research what you may be liable for in your state.
Generally, non-violent porch pirate traps are acceptable, like packages filled with trash or other decoy packages designed to catch the thief on a security camera. Both glitter and stink bomb may seem harmless and legal, but always consider the worst-case scenario. More on that later.
Also, consider that not everyone who comes onto your property and may stumble onto the trap is an actual trespasser or criminal.
You have a reasonable right to protect your package and property. Our laws value life over property, so if the porch pirate, who is trespassing and committing theft, is injured, you can be criminally and at least civilly liable for those injuries.
In Worst-Case Scenarios, You May Be Responsible
- If the porch pirate falls while running away, the they sustain a head injury or breaks a bone.
- If the thief opens the glitter box, getting glitter in their eyes and ending up with impaired vision.
- If the thief has an allergic reaction to the glue or anything else in the decoy box.
- If you set a noise device to go off when the porch pirate arrives and they have a heart attack, or it causes hearing damage.
- Avoid poop in any scenario – it can carry e.coli and other bacteria which can lead to extreme health issues.
Your Defense Is Self-Defense
If you’ve set your porch pirate trap and leave for the day, there is no threat to you; there is no argument for self-defense. Generally, most state laws say harming someone in self-defense is only lawful if there is imminent threat to your life. Again, we recommend good due diligence.
Katko v. Briney: Use of Deadly Force and Defense of Property
In Katko v. Briney (Iowa 1971), the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that landowners have a duty to not set potentially deadly traps for trespassers. This is an important case in the issue of defending property. Landowners Edward and Bertha Briney, were liable for the battery and injuries of trespasser Marvin Katko. The Brineys set up a spring-loaded shotgun in their empty farmhouse. They aimed the gun downward to avoid a potentially fatal torso shot. They put up “No Trespassing” signs around their property and farmhouse. Katko entered the farmhouse, triggering the gun, which fired at his legs, severely injuring his right leg. He sued the Brineys for the injury. The Court ruled that using deadly force in the unoccupied property was not reasonable nor justified and so, not a valid defense. The Court awarded Katko $20,000 in actual damages and $10,000 in punitive damages.
If there’s anything to learn, it’s that a good security cameras and a home security system is the best and safest way to deter porch pirates. Getting good footage of them committing the crime is key. Using porch pirate traps may seem like great revenge – as long as they don’t harm anyone – but the results of the trap are not always harmless.
Mark Rober and Glitter Bomb v. Porch Pirate
In the past several years, glitter bombs have trended online, especially after YouTuber and former NASA engineer, Mark Rober, fabricated them to deter porch pirates. His glitter bombs have evolved from 1.0 in 2018 to 6.0 in 2023, which he gives “instant karma” to a car thief. Click here to check out Glitter Bomb 4.0. If you’re impatient, the sparkles go off at approximately 7:34.
Rapid International offers package retrieval services as part of our patrol operation. We’ll move or store your delivery for you. We’re committed to building a safer community together, so let’s work together soon.
Rapid International Offers Community Solutions
Safety, Community, Together. Rapid International provides security services, including staffed areas and patrol services, prioritizing neighborhood-based security in collaboration with your community. Rapid’s management has extensive experience in the security industry and in each city, we build partnerships with local law enforcement and emergency service agencies. Together with community members, we work to make people and communities safe and secure.
Please get in touch to learn about our community-level security program – we believe the strength of collaboration and partnership make neighborhoods safer for everyone. In Georgia, call: (706) 844-2586, in California call: (213) 364-1394 or email us at info@therapidway.com.
The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.
Marcus Aurelius
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