For quite a while now the city of Glendale, California has seen a rash of robberies and Package Theft in residential areas.
People have been locating packages delivered to front doors and porches and then stealing them. These packages have been delivered from numerous sources such as FedEx, USPS, UPS, etc when people aren’t home or aren’t aware of the delivery to their home.
As a result of these thefts, more and more people have been buying home security and surveillance devices including the Ring Doorbell. The Ring Doorbell has a camera system built into the doorbell that allow you to receive notifications of activity in front of the door. You can monitor it on your smartphone and set the device to record to offsite storage of the video feed (the cloud). It’s a pretty good way to know what’s happening when you are away from home (and even when you are home but not wanting to go to your front door).
Another choice for home video security is SkyBell HD. Skybell operates a little differently but it’s the same general idea. It’s a doorbell that records video and stores it off location, in what is typically referred to as “the cloud” and allows you to access the footage. At last check Skybell gives you 7 days of free online storage and during those 7 days you can download the footage if you wish to keep it permanently.
I want to stress that I’m no expert on these doorbells and that you should do your own research to determine which works the best for you. Both products are priced similarly and have the ability to notify you of motion and let you view on your smartphone. It seems like both are fair options for the average consumer.
Here are two recent cases that are reported on the Glendale City Website by the Glendale Police.
Until the cases are resolved it’s important to note that these are alleged crimes and the people in these images and videos are suspects. If you know who these people are you should contact the Glendale Police Department at 818-548-4911.
Case #1
1500 block of Wabasso Way, Glendale
On Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 3:27 pm, the suspect ran up to the front porch, grabbed the packages and fled.
Suspect Description – Female, 19-30 years old, thin build and wearing blue jeans and a black shirt.
Here is the video of the event.
Case #2
5100 block of New York Avenue, La Crescenta
On Monday, July 3, 2017 at 1:04 pm, the suspect walked up onto the porch, knocked on the front door and when no one answered, she picked up the packages and walked away.
Suspect Description – Female, 55-65 years old, medium build and wearing light colored clothing and a Dodger cap.
Here is a video of the event.
If you recognize these suspects, please contact the Glendale Police Department at 818-548-4911.
According to package theft statistics, each year more than 23 million Americans have their packages stolen. Follow these tips to avoid being a victim:
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Have packages delivered to your workplace or to a location where someone is available to receive the item.
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Use a PO Box.
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Reroute or reschedule a delivery if you are not home.
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Require a signature upon delivery.
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Install a smart security camera at your front door.
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Use a smart package locker. When adding the shipping address during the checkout process, you can find out whether an Amazon locker is available in your community.