Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
24
“Took The Bait”: Woman Doles Out Incognito Karma On Neighbor Who Constantly Stole Her Packages
In this day and age of technology and cameras, it’s almost impossible to steal a neighbor’s packages undetected. And when you do get caught, expect an embarrassing backlash at best and a ruined life, at worst.
This entitled Karen almost experienced both when she was caught in the act. However, she didn’t get her comeuppance in one fell swoop. It happened through a series of events, from a sweet and ingenious petty revenge plot by the neighbor she stole from.
It was ultimately a happy ending as the author proudly shared her story on Reddit.
RELATED:
Package theft has been on the rise in recent years
Image credits: Robert So/Pexels (not the actual photo)
This woman experienced it courtesy of her neighbor living across from her in an apartment complex
Image credits: Elle Hughes/Pexels (not the actual photo)
She didn’t know who was doing it at first, until she caught the perpetrator in the act
Image credits: Berna/Pexels (not the actual photo)
With the evidence she collected, she chose to exact petty revenge instead of reporting to the authorities
Image credits: Freepik (not the actual photo)
Her genius plot worked, as “Cassie” never stole from her again
Image credits: Curious-Mongoose-435
Porch pirates amassed billions of dollars’ worth of stolen goods in 2024
Image credits: Polina Tankilevitch/Pexels (not the actual photo)
According to this November 2024 report, package thieves stole around $12 billion of goods in the past year alone. These numbers were based on a survey of 11,000 adults around the United States, where a quarter reported having a package stolen.
On top of that, 13 million people experienced package theft within the last three months since the report’s release. The average value of stolen items was $204, accounting for almost $3 billion in e-commerce merchandise.
Experts like Security Explorer president Jack Berry point to the “growing reliance on e-commerce” as one of the primary reasons for the rise of package thefts. He also noted that homeowners put themselves in a position to be stolen from.
“Such negligence makes their homes easy targets for burglars and increases the chances of package theft,” Berry told E-Commerce Times, revealing that 42% of Americans leave their doors unlocked and 15% do so even when they are not home.
Buying in bulk online became rampant during the COVID-19 pandemic when many people sought “retail therapy” to cope with their anxieties. However, it also made package theft more sophisticated and organized.
“Initially an opportunistic crime, the rise in home deliveries has turned it into a business for some perpetrators,” retail operations professional Suni Shamapande said.
Keeping packages from being noticed is an effective way to deter theft
Image credits: Jean Fourche/Pexels (not the actual photo)
Having a package delivered to your doorstep does make life more convenient. However, it also makes your precious items a magnet for thieves, like cow dung to a swarm of flies.
One way to prevent yourself from being a victim of package theft is to remove that convenience.
This is why SafeWise.com security systems researcher Rebecca Edwards advises keeping packages hidden from plain sight by signing for deliveries or using a package locker. As she tells PBS, the locker can be a hub in your town or neighborhood, or one on your porch.
“Unfortunately, these porch pirates make us have to go out of our way to avoid them,” she said, adding that consumers must adapt to how criminals run their business.
Fortunately for the author, however, the package thief was someone living across from her. In her case, the revenge plot would have been a stronger message than reporting a petty crime to the authorities. And it worked out well for her.
Readers shared their advice as the author responded to comments
Others shared similar experiences
However, some disagreed with her approach
Poll Question
Total votes ·
Thanks! Check out the results:
Total votes ·
Newsletter
Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls
By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!
What do you think ?
turk 9 months ago (edited)
If anyone thinks police give a d**n about porch pirates, they've never reported the crime before. I caught some people stealing my package in the act, and after arguing one of them threatened to pull out a gun and shoot me (closed the door and called the police, so never saw if they had a gun). Not only did the police tell me it's my fault for not having a locking drop box, but they refused to press any charges because the item was "under $10" and they never actually pulled out a gun. And although they didn't catch them, they told me that they knew exactly who they were by the description, and they "are always doing this", like it's not their job to catch criminals. And I even had video of the incident occurring.
KatSaidWhat 9 months ago
Last place I worked at (medical building), one of the PAs kept stealing supplies from the stockroom. The Lab started getting annoyed about it and installed a camera but did not notify anyone - I spotted it by sheer coincidence. I too did not say a word until after the second time that person took her little wheelie case to the stockroom to fill up. The horror on her face still makes me smile. And she was also fired for theft.
Tabitha 9 months ago (edited)
This is the reason I have a PO Box. I only rent the smallest one, because if a package is too big for it, or there are too many packages, either they’ll put everything in a lockbox and leave the key on my PO Box, or they’ll leave a claim slip and I can go to the desk and collect my package(s). No porch pirating at all. Just a trip to the post office—-which I have to do anyway, as my business has its PO Box there too. Also, having my own PO Box allows me to have packages that are gifts for my husband and other family mailed there instead of to my house, so no one can snoop, shake the box, look at the return address, and figure out what they’re getting (sometimes sellers don’t even bother to put an item in a plain box, and ship it in its own box which very obviously says what it is).
turk 9 months ago (edited)
If anyone thinks police give a d**n about porch pirates, they've never reported the crime before. I caught some people stealing my package in the act, and after arguing one of them threatened to pull out a gun and shoot me (closed the door and called the police, so never saw if they had a gun). Not only did the police tell me it's my fault for not having a locking drop box, but they refused to press any charges because the item was "under $10" and they never actually pulled out a gun. And although they didn't catch them, they told me that they knew exactly who they were by the description, and they "are always doing this", like it's not their job to catch criminals. And I even had video of the incident occurring.
KatSaidWhat 9 months ago
Last place I worked at (medical building), one of the PAs kept stealing supplies from the stockroom. The Lab started getting annoyed about it and installed a camera but did not notify anyone - I spotted it by sheer coincidence. I too did not say a word until after the second time that person took her little wheelie case to the stockroom to fill up. The horror on her face still makes me smile. And she was also fired for theft.
Tabitha 9 months ago (edited)
This is the reason I have a PO Box. I only rent the smallest one, because if a package is too big for it, or there are too many packages, either they’ll put everything in a lockbox and leave the key on my PO Box, or they’ll leave a claim slip and I can go to the desk and collect my package(s). No porch pirating at all. Just a trip to the post office—-which I have to do anyway, as my business has its PO Box there too. Also, having my own PO Box allows me to have packages that are gifts for my husband and other family mailed there instead of to my house, so no one can snoop, shake the box, look at the return address, and figure out what they’re getting (sometimes sellers don’t even bother to put an item in a plain box, and ship it in its own box which very obviously says what it is).
You May Like Racist Lady Thinks Dog Doesn’t Belong To The Owner, Goes Out Of Her Way To Call Animal Control 47 People Who Finally Met Their Karma And It Was Satisfying To Watch (New Pics) Man Refuses To Pay Remaining $200 After Deal, Woman’s Petty Revenge Exposes Him To His Entire Fam
Denis Krotovas
Mindaugas Balčiauskas
Denis Krotovas
Related on Bored Panda
48
20