The final months of the year mark the busiest shopping period on the global calendar. Packages are piling in. However, many homeowners are away on vacation, visiting relatives, or attending holiday events when couriers arrive. As a result, packages are often left unattended on porches and driveways for hours, if not days.
Leaving parcels outdoors during the year-end sale rush is a high-stakes gamble that is both risky and, fortunately, entirely avoidable. The solution is to integrate a smart lock for home.
Why Leaving Packages Outside Is a Bad Idea
While leaving a box on the porch might seem like a minor inconvenience, the risks during the winter season are multifaceted.
1. Packages Can Get Wet
The year-end promotion season is synonymous with unpredictable winter weather. Depending on your region, a package left outside for just an hour can be subjected to heavy rain, sleet, or melting snow. Cardboard is porous; once the outer packaging is compromised, the moisture can seep through to the contents inside. Whether it is high-end electronics, delicate clothing, or paper-based gifts, water damage can ruin your purchase before it is even unboxed.
2. Packages Can Get Stolen
The rise of porch piracy is a well-documented phenomenon that reaches its zenith in December. Criminals often follow delivery trucks through residential neighborhoods, waiting for the moment a courier leaves a parcel. These opportunistic thefts happen in seconds. The emotional toll of a stolen gift even outweighs the financial loss, leading to a frantic, stressful search for replacements at the eleventh hour when stock is likely depleted.
3. Packages Can Get Damaged
Packages can also be blown away by high winds, knocked over by neighborhood pets, or accidentally stepped on by other visitors. Furthermore, leaving items in plain sight alerts passersby that the house may be empty, potentially inviting further security risks to the home itself.
How a Smart Lock Solves the Package Delivery Problem
Technology has provided a bridge between online shopping and package delivery. A smart door lock allows for secure indoor delivery without the need to share permanent keys or be physically present:
1. Temporary Access Codes
Most advanced smart locks allow you to generate a one-time or time-sensitive guest code. You can include this code in the delivery instructions section of your online order. The driver can then use the code to open the door, place the package just inside the foyer, and close the door, which then automatically relocks.
2. Remote Unlocking
If your lock is Wi-Fi enabled, you can receive a notification from your video doorbell or a call from the driver. After verifying their identity through your camera, you can remotely unlock the door via your smartphone app, watch them place the parcel inside, and lock it back up instantly.
Sarah’s Shift to Secure Deliveries
Sarah used to dread the holiday delivery season. To combat the fear of theft, Sarah spent years shipping all her personal packages to her office. While this kept the items from being stolen from her porch, it created a new set of exhausting problems.
Each evening in December, Sarah found herself hauling heavy, bulky boxes from her office desk to the parking garage, then from her car into her home.
On days when she took public transit, the situation was even worse, often requiring multiple trips or expensive ride-shares just to get her shopping home.
Furthermore, shipping to an office isn’t always possible for oversized items like furniture or large appliances, leaving her still vulnerable to missed deliveries and “we missed you” sticky notes on her door.
The transition to a smart lock for home changed everything for Sarah. She no longer spends her lunch breaks at the mailroom or her evenings lugging boxes through the cold.
Now, she simply provides a temporary entry code to her regular couriers. The delivery drivers place her items safely inside her mudroom. She receives a notification on her phone the moment the door is accessed and locked.
No more hauling boxes, no more missed deliveries, and no more “porch pirate” anxiety.
Secure Your Packages with DESLOC D110 Plus Smart Lock
At DESLOC, we provide reliable, trusted smart door locks. The DESLOC D110 Plus Smart Lock can handle the rigors of modern life while providing the highest level of security. It features:
1. Temporary Code and Remote Control
With our D110 Plus smart lock, you can generate a temporary code via the DESLOC app and share it with couriers for one-time use.
It also features a unique request-to-unlock function: a delivery driver can long-press the “Menu” button on the lock itself to initiate a remote unlocking request. You can then approve the request directly from your smartphone.
2. Instant Push Notifications
The D110 Plus front door smart lock supports instant mobile notifications so you know your lock’s status at all times. The moment a courier enters the code, you receive an immediate alert on your phone. This real-time visibility allows you to track deliveries as they happen, giving you peace of mind that your packages are secure.
3. Secure Vacation Mode
If you are traveling or visiting family during the holidays, the D110 Plus features a “Vacation Mode.” This setting enhances your home’s security by restricting access and disabling certain entry methods, ensuring that your home remains a fortress while you are away.
4. Full Environment Adaptation
The D110 Plus is built for stability and reliability. It is designed for full environment adaptation, capable of handling extreme temperatures, heavy snow, and torrential rain. This ensures the hardware remains functional and the electronics stay responsive, providing a consistent and dependable security solution regardless of the harsh winter conditions.
Conclusion
Don’t let porch pirates ruin your holiday season. By upgrading to a DESLOC smart lock, you aren’t just buying a gadget; you are investing in the peace of mind that your packages will be exactly where they belong: safe inside your home. Make this year the year you finally end the risk of outdoor package delivery.
