The holiday season in Colorado Springs brings snow-dusted Pikes Peak views, festive lights on Tejon Street, and—unfortunately— Porch Pirates. These opportunistic thieves swipe unattended deliveries right off doorsteps, with the National Neighborhood Watch reporting over 119 million packages stolen nationwide last year alone. In our mountain city, where many homes sit on quiet cul-de-sacs or have long driveways, visible boxes become easy targets. As your local locksmith experts at ApexAccess, we’ve helped countless residents reclaim security after thefts. Here’s how to outsmart pirates this season in about a five-minute read.
Time Your Deliveries Like a Pro
Schedule packages for when someone’s home. Most carriers—Amazon, UPS, FedEx—offer precise delivery windows or “hold for pickup” options.
Pro Tip: Use Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery if you have a compatible opener (we install and program those, too).
Install a Smart Lock + Video Doorbell Combo
A visible camera deters 87% of would-be thieves (per a University of North Carolina study). Pair it with a smart lock for remote control.
– Recommended Setup:
– Ring Video Doorbell 4 (motion zones catch sidewalk activity).
– August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (auto-unlocks for trusted guests, locks after delivery).
Create a “Package Fort”
Thwart grab-and-go thefts with physical barriers:
– Lockable Parcel Box: Steel boxes like the ParcelVault 200 bolt to your porch. Drivers drop inside; only you have the key or code.
– Hidden Drop Zone: Ask neighbors if deliveries can go behind a side gate or in a locked shed.
– Build an Amazon/UPS drop room: This option has been gaining some popularity especially with newer home construction. A small room with a built in counter and two locking doors is built near the garage or front entrance to the home. One door is public facing and is simply left unlocked on the days a package delivery is expected. Sometimes a keypad lock is installed and temporary codes are used. The code is added to the shipping information so that the delivery driver can unlock the door and leave the package inside. The lock re-secures the door, and often uses a door closer to ensure the door closes completely. The second door is also locked but is accessed from the inside of the home. There is no need to leave the house to enter the drop room. At ApexAccess, we have been called by homeowners to install higher security locks and keypads on various drop rooms in Colorado Springs and Monument.
Leverage Local Courier Perks
Colorado Springs has unique options:
The UPS Store We use this location, but there are others and is a great option –combining not only a secure package drop off point, but you can have your mail sent to them as well.
USPS Informed Delivery: See preview images of incoming mail/packages each morning.
UPS My Choice & FedEx Delivery Manager: Reroute to a locker at King Soopers or Walgreens on Centennial Blvd.
Amazon Locker: Use the one inside the Chapel Hills Mall—pirates can’t steal what’s behind a PIN-coded door.
Neighborhood Watch 2.0
Old-school signs still work, but add tech:
- Post “24/7 Video Surveillance” stickers (we provide them free with any install).
- Join or start a Nextdoor thread titled “Porch Pirate Patrol – Briargate” or whichever neighborhood you’re in.
- Share Ring Neighbors clips—thieves hate recognition.
Final Lockdown
This holiday, don’t let Porch Pirates turn your cheer into frustration. A $200 investment in a smart lock and camera pays for itself after preventing one stolen PlayStation or designer coat.