NYSP shares tips on keeping porch pirates away [Video]

They’re called porch pirates — people who steal gifts, food and sometimes medications off people’s porches.

These types of thefts are up, according to law enforcement, and they were up before we started the holiday shopping frenzy. The New York State Police says larcenies are up 10-50% in some communities.

The amount of online shopping is up as well. These porch pirates, in some cases, are grabbing a package within less than a minute of it being dropped off. Troopers say people follow delivery drivers and swipe deliveries along the way.

Having doorbell cameras isn’t necessarily preventing the crimes, either.

Your house could be what’s known as a soft target.

“You can always have those packages, if your work will allow, shipped to your place of employment,” said Trooper James O’Callaghan, NYSP public information officer for Troop A. “Maybe you have family members who work from home. Maybe you have family members who are retired grandparents or your parents …