Chicago region ranks worst in nation for porch piracy; Here’s how to avoid being plundered

Here’s one list we in the Chicago area aren’t happy to sit atop as the holiday shopping officially begins: Favorite city for porch pirates.

Chicago and the suburbs are the worst metro region in the country when it comes to package thefts, according to a recent report from the home security website Safewise.

The report says we lost more than $254 million to porch pirates and other package thieves last year, beating out New York City for the top spot by about $6 million. Those losses were the result of nearly 6.5 million thefts, also tops in the nation.

The good news? We’re still far behind other cities, including Baltimore, Detroit, San Antonio and Miami, for thefts per 1,000 residents, and as a state, Illinois places ninth behind the likes of California, Texas, Florida and Ohio.

More good news — the number of package thefts reported nationwide declined last year, from 120 million in 2023 to 104 million, a 13% drop, the report says.

Even so, total losses across the U.S. last year topped $15 billion for consumers and $22 billion for retailers. And the people behind those thefts aren’t just amateurs.

“We’re seeing organized crime get involved,” said Steve Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. “This is more than just local thieves.”

Package protection

For those of us who plan to skip the malls this year and have your holiday purchases come to us, we asked some local experts for some tips to avoid a plundering.

Be on alert: Mount Prospect Crime Prevention Officer Gregory Sill recommends online shoppers sign up for alerts that let you know by text or email when a package has been delivered.

“That way, you know to go pick up the package or, if you’re not home, you can ask a neighbor to do it, so you don’t leave something tempting out there,” he said.

If you do sign up for alerts, be aware of fakes. According to the BBB, scammers send phony text messages and emails claiming there is a problem with your delivery or account. Those are often phishing scams trying to dupe you into sharing account details or other personal information.

Out of sight, out of mind: Thieves can’t steal what isn’t there. So, experts say, if you can’t grab a package as soon as it’s delivered, make plans to have a neighbor or another trusted person pick it up instead.

Buyers can have packages delivered to a secure location, like an Amazon locker, UPS Access Point or the brick-and-mortar version of a retailer.

If that’s not an option, experts recommend having deliveries made to the rear of your home or another less visible location; placed behind an object like planter; or placed in a lock box outside your door.

And for expensive items, the BBB suggests paying extra for delivery insurance or requiring a signature for delivery.

Caught on camera: Arlington Heights Police Chief Nicholas Pecora recommends installing a motion-activated front door camera.

“A thief may think twice if they observe a camera that will capture their unlawful act,” he told us via email. “If a crime occurs, the video evidence may assist in any criminal prosecution and validate the incident for a reputable retailer who may want proof in order to replace the merchandise.”

For more holiday shopping tips, visit www.bbb.org/all/holiday-hq/shopping-tips.

Star treatment

Actress Tara Reid, best known for roles in the “American Pie” and “Sharknado” movie franchises, was treated at a local hospital over the weekend following an episode in which she believes she was drugged at a suburban hotel.

No police reports were filed immediately after the incident, but that changed Tuesday when Reid contacted the Rosemont Public Safety Department, officials said. She filed an online report later in the day.

Reid told the celebrity gossip website TMZ she was at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Rosemont when she fell ill early Sunday morning after drinking from a glass of wine at the hotel bar.

Rosemont Public Safety Lt. Joseph Balogh confirmed that paramedics and police officers responded to the hotel on River Road at about 12:39 a.m. Sunday for a medical call involving a person later identified as Reid. She was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, Balogh said.

Video from a witness shared with TMZ shows a dazed-looking Reid first being helped into a wheelchair in the hotel lobby and then rolled out in a stretcher by paramedics.

“The Rosemont Public Safety Department understands the severity of the allegations being reported and are committed to investigating this incident fully,” officials said in a written statement Tuesday night.

“At this point, we are in communication with the hotel to gather as much video surveillance as possible. As this incident has just been reported and is still open, no further information is available at this time,” the statement reads.

• Do you have a tip or a comment? Email us at copsandcrime@dailyherald.com.