Safe Delivery Dropoff Setup: Preventing Package Theft the Smart Way

Package theft is one of the fastest-growing home security problems. Thieves follow delivery trucks, scan for visible packages, and sweep porches quickly—usually in broad daylight. A “safe dropoff area” is not a gimmick; it’s a strategic setup designed to reduce visibility, control angles, and capture clear video if someone still tries to steal your delivery.

This guide walks through placement, concealment, lighting, signage, and camera angles that actually work. For deeper camera guidance, pair this with the Camera Placement Guide and Handling Backlight and Glare.

1. Choose a Dropoff Location That Isn’t Visible From the Street

Most package theft happens because thieves can see boxes from their car or while walking by. Your first job is to break the line of sight.

Best Dropoff Locations

• Behind a half wall or porch column.
• Beside a large planter that blocks direct view.
• Inside a recessed entryway or alcove.
• Behind a decorative bench or parcel box.

Homeowner Scenario A

Your porch is fully exposed. Deliveries sit dead-center in view of anyone driving by. By placing a planter near the porch edge and shifting the dropoff point behind it, packages disappear from street view without changing anything else about your setup.

2. Add a Camera Focused on the Approach Path (Not the Package)

You don’t need a camera pointing down at a box. You need a camera covering the path a thief would take.

Camera Placement Rules

• Mount 8–9 feet high for clear face capture.
• Aim at the walkway, driveway, or gate leading to your door.
• Avoid pointing directly at your dropoff area—this causes glare and shadows from delivery movement.
• Do not mount behind glass; IR glare ruins nighttime identification.

Homeowner Scenario B

Your doorbell camera captures the actual delivery but fails to capture the thief approaching from the side gate. Adding a secondary camera pointed at the walkway closes this blind spot entirely.

3. Use Lighting to Expose Movement, Not the Package

Light should reveal motion, not highlight the box thieves want to steal.

Lighting Rules

• Use a downward-angled dusk-to-dawn light near the entry.
• Avoid lights pointed outward toward the street—they make packages more visible.
• Add a motion light aimed across your walkway, not directly at your camera.

If lighting causes shadows or camera flare, refer to Security Lighting Placement.

4. Use a Delivery Box or Concealment Method

A simple concealment method dramatically cuts theft. Thieves look for exposed packages—not hidden ones.

Concealment Options

• Lockable parcel box: USPS-approved models are sturdy and weatherproof.
• Bench with storage: Looks decorative, hides deliveries.
• Large planter shield: A tall plant or pot blocks direct view of the dropoff zone.
• Small privacy screen: Lightweight, cheap, and very effective at blocking line of sight.

5. Add Clear Signage (It Actually Works)

Most delivery drivers will place packages where you tell them. Simple signage removes ambiguity.

Effective Signs

• “Deliveries: Place Behind Planter”
• “Packages → Drop Box”
• “Please Place Packages Behind Bench”

These signs are not for thieves—they’re for drivers. Thieves already look for quick-grab boxes sitting in the open.

6. Keep the Area Clean and Uncluttered

Clutter creates hiding spots for packages and for intruders. Clean lines also make it easier for cameras to capture movement.

Quick Cleanup Checklist

• Remove old packages, bags, or shipping waste immediately.
• Keep porch floors and walkway edges clear.
• Trim plants that block your camera’s line of sight.
• Make sure decorative items don’t create shadows or glare.

7. If You Travel: Lock It Down

Porch pirates check for homes with multiple packages sitting out. If you're gone for 2+ days, use these measures:

Travel Rules

• Use Amazon Locker, UPS Store pickup, or USPS Hold Mail.
• Ask a neighbor you trust to collect packages.
• Do not rely on a doorbell camera alone—thieves move fast.

Once your delivery zone is concealed, monitored, and well-lit, your porch stops being an easy target and starts acting like a controlled receiving area—not an open shelf for thieves.

Next: Preventing Ladder Access