Package thieves stealing iPhones
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Yep! In 2024, package thieves found a new way to steal high-value items, specifically iPhones. They follow package deliveries and nab the shipment the moment it's dropped off. In most cases, these thieves run up and grab a package from a porch or doorstep only seconds after the delivery person leaves.
Reports indicate that these thefts are frequently occurring with AT&T iPhone purchases and FedEx deliveries, although the details can vary.
https://www.cnet.com/home/security/faq-beware-thieves-tracking-iphone-gifts-this-holiday-season/
They don’t mention it in the article, but you can usually redirect the delivery to a FedEx or UPS office and pick it up from there. Seems safer than trying to beat the thieves to the punch at your front door. Plus I’ve seen videos of the pirates grabbing packages from a delivery person’s hands as they stand on your front porch…
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How do they know that it's a phone that's been delivered?
BTW my mother got a new iPad recently and I was trying to get her to have it sent to Best Buy so she could go and pick it up. I don't remember why she decided not to do that, but fortunately, she
received it without incident.We have not had any packages stolen yet. I don't know if that's because of the neighborhood, or the way our front porch/door is (highly visible etc.). But I don't take that for granted. So far I haven't ordered electronics, but if I do, you can bet I won't have it dropped on my doorstep!
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We get a lot of Amazon packages delivered to the porch and if I don’t get one Amazon sends another one.
I see this as a problem but not my problem.
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We get a lot of Amazon packages delivered to the porch and if I don’t get one Amazon sends another one.
I see this as a problem but not my problem.
@Steve-Miller said in Package thieves stealing iPhones:
I see this as a problem but not my problem.
But is this like shoplifting, where “shrinkage” contributes (in less visible ways) to prices increases?
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How do they know that it's a phone that's been delivered?
BTW my mother got a new iPad recently and I was trying to get her to have it sent to Best Buy so she could go and pick it up. I don't remember why she decided not to do that, but fortunately, she
received it without incident.We have not had any packages stolen yet. I don't know if that's because of the neighborhood, or the way our front porch/door is (highly visible etc.). But I don't take that for granted. So far I haven't ordered electronics, but if I do, you can bet I won't have it dropped on my doorstep!
@ShiroKuro said in Package thieves stealing iPhones:
How do they know that it's a phone that's been delivered?
One theory is that someone on the inside (of ATT, for instance) gets hold of the tracking numbers for phone shipments.
