BOURBONNAIS – ‘Porch Pirates’ are on the rise in Kankakee County.
According to area residents, multiple reports of stolen packages are coming in this month from across the County. Specifically in Bourbonnais near Edwin Drive and in Kankakee near subdivisions south of Meadowview Shopping Center.
The reports date back to the beginning of the month.
Package thefts typically rise during fourth quarter exponentially.
In 2019, a study by C+R Research showed the average consumer spent $222 per month through e-commerce solutions, with over 36% of participates in the study reporting they themselves had a package stolen during that time. Over 20% reported a package stolen more than once a month, with the average replacement cost above a hundred dollars.
Only 11% of those polled reported the porch pirates were eventually captured using systems like video doorbell surveillance.
Police advise residents have packages delivered to a secure address like work or a relative who will be home during off hours. You can also request packages be held at the post office for pickup, or require a signature confirmation for delivery.
