Theft of package mail is a serious big dollar hit and more than a personal inconvenience to victims, despite the cute descriptor, “PorchPirates”. The statistics reported below are from a Forbes summary:
Property theft of delivered packages is a national problem. Per a Forbes analysis*: [note: *= source cited below]
- Minnesota ranks the 9th highest incident state in the USA
- Nearly 8 in 10 people had a package stolen from them in 2022.
- In 2022, porch pirates stole 260 Million Packages, value estimated at $19.5 Billion
- Who is doing this:
- 94% are under 45 years old.
- 67% self identify as middle class.
- 54% are white.
How thefts are classified:
All thefts are classified partly by dollar value. All are important, no matter the dollar amount, and should be reported with a 911/311 call or email report.
In Minnesota, police classify package theft by value of the stolen item, just like other theft from a garage or home. **
- Felony theft is an item worth more than $1000
- Gross misdemeanor involves items valued between $500 and $1000.
- Petty theft includes items valued at less than $500.
Preventing Package Theft – It’s Better than Catching a Thief.
One list of suggestions is from the Better Business Bureau. ***
- Don’t leave unattended packages.
- If you’re expecting something and you’ll be gone, ask a neighbor to watch.
- Ship to store and drive in to get your package.
- Many retailers offer this service. If something — like shoes — needs to fit, try them
- on at the store. You can return them on the spot if they don’t fit.
- This option comes with no delivery charge!
- Many retailers offer this service. If something — like shoes — needs to fit, try them
- Use a security camera.
- Make sure your camera is positioned so it actually records a face
- Require a signature.
- Consider a package receiving service.
RETAILER PICK UP OPTIONS
The stores I surveyed at the Quarry and in the Rosedale complex still offer curbside pickup, which is still very important for people with compromised immunity systems. Everyone else can use them too.
Other pick up options:
Amazon Hub Locker — one is located in Cub in the exit foyer, on your right:
Look at Amazon delivery options: they’ll ask for your zip code. This Cub (in zip 55413) is your option in the 2nd precinct. There are other lockers nearby but outside the 2nd Pct. or Minneapolis.
Home Depot has lockers see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtkqUuruUZMTarget: https://www.target.com/c/order-pickup/-/N-ng0a0
Mail Services with USPS & UPS
United States Postal Service
- You can rent a P.O. box for less than $15/month. ($88 for 6 months)
- Packages addressed to your P.O. Box will be held for your pick up.
- If you decide to cancel before the end of the rental period, you get a refund for the unused months.
United Parcel Service 1730 New Brighton Blvd #104, Minneapolis MN 55413. [and others nearby]
- Package acceptance from all carriers
- Package and mail receipt notifications
- Mail holding and forwarding
- Call-In mail check
- 24-hour access (at participating locations)
- Key Savings Card™
If you requested shipping to your home, and your package is missing, and your delivery service says it was delivered, check with your neighbors. It may have gone to the wrong address. Some delivery services have a picture of the house where the package was left. Maybe your delivery is next door.
Still missing? CALL 311
What will happen may not be a squad car. With 2nd Precinct staffing remaining around 60%, Officers must focus on top priority calls:
- helping people in danger,
- stopping crime in process,
- stopping dangerous drivers.
Those are and always have been the top MPD priorities as they should be. Know that low staffing makes it even more important for you to continue to report those thefts. Residents are part of the crime prevention team if, when they see something, they say something by dialing 311 to report what they saw.
‘Calling it in’ is our job on the security team.
When you report a theft to 311, your report is plotted on an incident map. Officers and others can see what crimes are happening, when, and where.
If the Second Precinct has a “rash” of porch thefts reported in a small area, the officers can focus on those livability crime areas AFTER they’ve responded to the top priority calls listed above.
Inspector Torborg confirmed that calling 311 is the way to get your complaint entered on a crime map. Once it’s entered there, he and other staff will be aware of where there is activity. If you DO have a good video or other identifying info, the 311 operator will route that to 911 or another place where it can be used.
Again, because of staffing, don’t be discouraged if you have to leave a message at 311.
Comment: Our neighborhood has a great deal of porch pirate theft, especially around the holidays. He advised neighbors to use the 311 email function so the record gets in. Is it correct that there is a way to make a direct report to the MPD on that website?
Inspector: There is.**** It’s a good place to enter all the details you have about an incident.
STATE OF THE PRECINCTFrom the MPD Dashboard: Crime in the 2nd Precinct 10-9-23 through 11/12/23
| Crime Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 3-yr. ave | |
| Assault* | 75 | 91 | 79 | |
| Burglary B&E | 24 | 18 | 34 | |
| Damage to prop. | 83 | 83 | 66 | |
| Homicide, non-neg | 1 | 0 | ||
| Homicide, negligent | 0 | 0 | ||
| Larceny theft | 178 | 181 | 210 | |
| M.V. Theft | 111 | 86 | 71 | |
| Robbery | 18 | 26 | 24 | |
| Includes Car-jacking | 1 | 10 | 6 | |
| Sex offenses | 5 | 5 | 6 | |
| Stolen property off. | 4 | 2 | 4 | |
| Weapon Law Viol. | 10 | 12 | 9 | |
| *Domestic ag. Aslt incl | 5 | 9 | 7 | |
| Shots fired calls | 20 | 29 | 33 | |
| Gunshot victims | 1 | 0 | 1 |
QQ: Do you have any recent statistics on catalytic converter theft?
Inspector: There’s a high incidence area in Marcy Holmes around 35W. We focused more squads in that area and it has made a difference, but not enough, yet. It’s an easy theft: everyone has a battery operated Saws-All. The converters are sold for their cadmium and platinum, which sell for a lot of money.
QQ: Spotted a Hyundai security pop-up near Lake Street. How does that go?
Inspector: They set up 4 or 5 lanes and want to have a car out in 20 minutes with new software installed and a decal on your car indicating that the software was there. That pop-up was in the 5th Precinct. 5th Pct. Inspector Nelson reported that over 500 cars got the upgrade.
Kia had two security upgrade events in Shakopee in November. Contact your dealership with your VIN# to see when the next ones will be and if your car is on their “FIX” list.
Inspector Torborg commented that when he goes to monthly meetings on crime in the city, the 2nd Precinct incident maps look “pretty clean” compared with the other Precincts. One thing we do have is too many auto thefts, primarily Kias and Hyundais. When we can get that problem solved we’ll be in better shape.
We still have “other” persistent crimes, random robbery of person or a carjacking. We are combating those numbers which wouldn’t be bad in another Precinct. This is in the Northeast. We’re different, and want to keep it that way.
We’ve had crime analysts in to see if there’s a pattern. They can’t find any pattern that will help us.
*https:///www.forbes.com/home-improvement/home-security/worst-states-for-porch-pirates/
** https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.52#stat.609.52.3
*** https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/18927-avoid-package-theft
****https://www.minneapolismn.gov/report-an-issue/theft-lost-property-or-damaged-property/
Emilie closed with a reminder that the 2-PAC 39th Annual 10-Hour Buffet for all on-duty first responders is coming soon. On December 24, we’ll open at noon and finish at 10PM that evening. Volunteer help is needed through the month to pull everything together. A general meeting will be called after Thanksgiving.
Youtube video link: https://youtu.be/zADUQTW3pUw
2nd Precinct Advisory Council 