Mods, feel free to put this in whatever category is more fitting
So for those of you that do not frequent the Lounge you probably don't know what has transpired over this weekend
I got a call from my Grandmother (who is currently in Florida) asking if I ever received a package from her. At first I was confused since I always get my mail. I asked her what date it was delivered on and she said the 17th of March ( a week ago)
Doubting her slightly I checked my 4 camera security system and sure enough it was delivered. And then stolen.
As you can see the (lets just call him ginger thief) first walks past my house and notices a box on my porch. He then promptly cuts around the block through the alley and walks back in the same direction and steals my package.
If not for my camera system I would have never known what happened. At the time my dad purchased this everyone in the house called him paranoid (even me slightly).
BUT WHAT DO YOU KNOW THE SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD I'VE LIVED IN MY NEARLY 20 YEARS OF LIFE FINALLY GOT A CROOK.
This is my camera system
It can be accessed remotely, send email alerts, and has IR night vision and MOST IMPORTANTLY export video VERY EASILY
BIG F***ING NOTE:
I'm not trying to push this specific system, its just what I use.
Just an FYI claiming insurance on that package will mean all future packages will have to be signed for in person or picked up from your local hub (if it's UPS) not sure how others have a 3 strike system or what but it's something to keep in mind.
Well damn that is terrible what happened. BUT only sh*t at least you had surveillance and it on tape. I would like to see people like that end up in jail.
On another note, I hope things get figured out and that you get something in return.
There is a reason we get to our door in Germany to sign for a recived package... This is bad and the solution is okay but the reason this needs to exist should not be there!
Same thing happened awhile back. I live in a suburban area which is quite safe - almost no gangs and primarily asian/indian.
My dad had a logitech unit(simple all-in-one PoE powered camera). He installed it at the front door, and liked it a lot. He ordered another one on ebay, and these cameras were quite expensive because logitech had discontinued them.
When the package tracking said "arrived", my dad asked if I got a package(I usually pick up the mail, but not on this particular day). I told him I didn't see any. Lo and behold, reviewing the footage from the newly installed camera, there was some white lady and her buddy in a car which rolled up, took the package, AND THEN ALSO PROCEEDED TO TAKE OUR MAIL.
We went around our neighborhood and found other people with camera systems as well, which also had noticed the same car and people recently doing these "petty thefts". We had enough information for a case, but decided against it as the police warned us that it was quite likely that these two people were also part of a larger group. I use the word "petty thefts" because the police consider it a "petty theft" due to the fact that these people didn't break into the house. The punishment for a crime like that is not very harsh, iirc.
A couple weeks later, we had notifications of credit card applications under our names, which was likely created using the information in whatever mail they stole.
We now have a lorex security system wired up around the house, as well as a mailbox with a lock on it.
Here in the US, at least in my area, all the mailboxes are the very generic ones you see in books and movies.
e.g:
Literally just pull open and slide mail inside. Anyone can technically access it, and the mailman gets pissed if you don't pick up your mail every day because if you get a lot of mail, space fills up in this thing super damn fast.
With the growing amount of things being ordered online as society progresses more towards an online economy, these types of crimes are only going to get worse.
This is the type of mailbox we have now. Insert mail in the top via a kind of dumping bucket thing, and open the door with a key on the bottom to get your mail. It's a lot bigger and nicer and can easily hold up to a week's mail if you aren't constantly getting little packages.
