How does one catch a package thief? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Astrocloud · 10-01-2005, 10:39 AM

I have a problem.

I have recently ordered stuff via ebay -to be delivered to my house. I am presently renting a room in a large house sectioned off into individual "apartments". (We share a disgusting bathroom).

One problem in the house is that packages will be left outside in a common mail area. Everyone has their individual mailboxes but the postman will leave packages outside the main entrance.

Someone had ordered a camera and had the package stolen several weeks ago. The culprit was most certainly someone renting a room ie. -someone living in the house with us.

Although the objects that I ordered do not have a lot of value (being shoes and what not) -I don't want to lose them.

I thought about the feasability of sending myself a package with some sort of transponder in it -to catch the package thief. Has anyone here tried something like this? Does anyone here have any other ideas on either:

a) catching the package thief
or
b) Preventing the thief from stealing.

Thanks

Grasshopper Green · 10-01-2005, 10:42 AM

My sister had this problem a year ago, and she went to the post office. They were absolutely no help. She ended up renting a post office box for this very reason...but her neighbor was taking all her mail, not just her packages. I really don't have an solutions for you, except renting a post office box. Or using a company that requires you being home to accept the box.

oberon · 10-01-2005, 10:43 AM

Camera surveillance?

Your best bet is probably to have all packages held, and report the packages stolen for a reason. Or don't allow them to leave packages.

Odd thing is... there was a package from Dell shipped via USPS that was in the publically-accessible mail area in my apartment building, and it was there for about a week before it disappeared. Clearly around here people don't steal things...

sprocket · 10-01-2005, 10:52 AM

4 easy steps to catch your theif.

1: See if you can get ahold of some paint bombs.. the kind banks use to help catch robbers.

2: Put it in a very conspicous valuble looking box.

3:Mail it to yourself.

4: Sit back and wait for the magic to happen.

flstf · 10-01-2005, 10:58 AM

Maybe plant a bogus package with one of those exploding dye things that the banks put in money bags to catch robbers? Wasn't there a story not too long ago where someone gift wrapped their garbage during a sanitation workers strike and left the packages out in the open for thieves or is that just another urban legend?

Astrocloud · 10-01-2005, 11:15 AM

Does anyone know where to buy an exploding dye pack?

Slavakion · 10-01-2005, 11:48 AM

Probably not at Walmart

From HowStuffWorks

Quote:

n a typical bank robbery, the robber hands a note to the bank teller listing his demands, usually instructing the teller to put money in a bag or other object. The dye pack device was invented as a way to non-violently render a bank robbery pointless by permanently staining the stolen money a bright red color, alerting everyone to the fact that the money being passed to them is stolen.

The dye pack used in over 75 percent of banks in the United States is called the "SecurityPac," made by ICI Security Systems. A dye pack consists of a stack of real bills, usually of $10 or $20 denominations, with the dye device stuck in the middle of the stack. In the past, the device itself was made of a rigid plastic and was quite detectable to the skilled criminal. Today, however, new technology has allowed the dye to be housed in a thin, flexible package, making a dye pack virtually indistinguishable from a regular stack of money.

Bank tellers have several of these packs near their station at all times. A pack is put in "safe" mode by attaching it to a special magnetic plate. During a robbery, a teller tries to slip one of the dye packs into the money bag without the thief noticing. While the thief is still inside the bank, the dye pack remains dormant. Within the dye package is a small radio receiver that is activated when the pack is removed from the magnetic plate. A small radio transmitter is mounted inside or near the door frame of all entrances of the bank. Once the dye pack passes through the door and receives the specific radio frequency signal, it activates. The dye pack is usually set on a timer of 10 seconds or longer so that the criminal is either in his getaway car or running a good distance from the bank before the package explodes.

When the dye pack explodes, it releases an aerosol of red smoke, red dye (1-methylamino-anthraquinone) and, in some cases, tear gas. When these chemical reactions take place, the package burns at a temperature of about 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius), discouraging any attempts to remove the device from the bag. (Further details of the chemical activation are "classified.") Typically, the explosion of the dye pack compels the thief to throw the bag, so the bank gets its money back. In addition, the red dye frequently stains the thief's clothes and/or hands, making identification of the suspect quite easy.

To date, the "SecurityPac" has helped to recover nearly $20 million and to apprehend about 2,500 criminals.

If any part of it is classified, you can bet that it isn't available to the general public through legal means.

Astrocloud · 10-01-2005, 12:29 PM

I found a contact with 3SI who makes the SecurityPac and FlexiPac. I don't know if they will sell me one or if they are expensive. I came up with this sign:

Quote:

Attention

Package Thief

We know who you are.

We are waiting for you to slip up again. Either
return the stolen merchandise or go to jail

Any questions? Call the Waltham Police
Department. 781-314-3600

Gilda · 10-01-2005, 12:31 PM

The best solution is to rent a mailbox at a Mailboxes etc. or other mailbox store, and have all packages sent there. They'll sign for you and hold your packages until you're ready to pick them up.

Actually catching the thief would probably involve camera surveillance.

Gilda

feelgood · 10-01-2005, 12:45 PM

If you're shipping via Fedex or UPS, you can request that they hold your package for you to pick it up for free. I guess that wouldn't work if you live too far from the station.

Plus, coming up with a sign like that can be illegal, the police is not actually involved and yet, you're making a sign that shows that they are involved.

flat5 · 10-01-2005, 01:15 PM

Speaking of illegal, I can only think that mailing yourself an exploding device is.

Astrocloud · 10-01-2005, 01:25 PM

Maybe a siren then.

JStrider · 10-01-2005, 01:32 PM

ooooo the siren could be a good way to go...

wouldnt be hard to setup a little booby trap so when the box lid is opened it pulls a pin out from between 2 contacts which then complete the circuit and set off the siren...

there are even little self defense sirens that are pretty small and really loud, i'm sure one of those could be modified to fit your needs.... any way you set it up you want it to be hard to turn off...

noodle · 10-01-2005, 01:56 PM

Bwahahahaha! You guys are so funny. Exploding dye packs, sirens... Put a dead rat or halloween mask under nice pretty paper inside a box you previously received in the mail and stick a box of macaroni (or Kraft dinner) in the bottom so it makes a good shake. Stick a copy of the federal statues regarding mail theft underneath the rat or mask. worked in my old dorm. Like a charm. Of course, the scream reverberating down the hall when she found the rat... ~ahem~ "ratted" her out, if you will.

Thorny · 10-01-2005, 03:30 PM

Huh, in the areas I've lived, the postmaster would have started a federal investigation! I suppose huge cities are a bit different, though.

..and the postmaster wouldn't care if it was FedEx or UPS.

Fremen · 10-01-2005, 04:10 PM

Use some of that spray stuff on your package, like on CSI, and then get you a UV light to see who's been handling your package without your consent.

la petite moi · 10-01-2005, 04:56 PM

How about just get a PO Box? Maybe you can send a message to the seller asking them to make sure you have to sign for it?

raeanna74 · 10-01-2005, 06:45 PM

I love the idea of setting up a siren. That could be fun while still accomplishing your goal.

lindalove · 10-01-2005, 07:08 PM

Punish them.

Get an electronics box of some sort.

Fill a big tupperware bowl with rotting fish.

Glue the bowl inside the box.

Glue the top of the box to the top of the tupperware as you are sealing it.

You *may* be able to tell whose room the stink is coming from.

If not, you will at least have some satisfaction!

Vincentt · 10-01-2005, 08:00 PM

order something from the unibomber.

Rodney · 10-01-2005, 10:33 PM

Three ways to go, in the future, that aren't fantasy-revenge:

1. Get a P.O. Box. Always good to have, especially if you move around in the same town. Avoids so many changes of address.

2. U.P.S. bought Mailboxes Etc. a couple of years back, and now all the old MBEtc stores are UPS stores. You can have any package sent c/o yourself at a UPS store, even if it's not shipped UPS. They'll receive it for you and hold it for you. Of course, you pay. I think it's $5. Call the local store, if you have one, and check it out.

3. Have the package sent as certified mail. It costs more, of course. But the postman won't leave the package unless somebody signs, and unless they come right out of your door, the postman will ask for ID. And if there's nobody to sign, the postman leaves a yellow slip and you retrieve it at the PO the next day. (And if somebody steals the yellow slip and tries to get the package, be assured that they _will_ be asked for ID.)

Astrocloud · 10-18-2005, 08:15 AM

I am happy to say that I posted the sign (above) and I believe that I made the thief paranoid enough -so as not to mess with my packages. They came and were unmolested.

I do have a plan for the thief which presently I won't do because I am going to move.

Here is the plan anyways...

By some cheap but interesting Curio like this:

Put on some rubber gloves and coat the whole item with some of this "thief detection powder". It will turn whoever handles -the object's hands purple.

AquaFox · 10-18-2005, 02:04 PM

send yourself a box with some sorta cheap weight to it, then when it gets to you, all nicely postmarked and stuff, rig it up with some string and whatever, some insane contraption that sets off a air horn, fries and flips eggs, cooks toast, pours milk, takes a picture, and makes a burping and ding noises

Poppinjay · 10-19-2005, 07:32 AM

Um, how about actually making a police report?

Other than that, I favor browsing ACME's latest catalog of road runner capturing devices. Get the one where the owner rockets into a painting of a road while the road runner runs right through it.

10-01-2005, 10:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
Astrocloud Apocalypse Nerd	How does one catch a package thief? I have a problem. I have recently ordered stuff via ebay -to be delivered to my house. I am presently renting a room in a large house sectioned off into individual "apartments". (We share a disgusting bathroom). One problem in the house is that packages will be left outside in a common mail area. Everyone has their individual mailboxes but the postman will leave packages outside the main entrance. Someone had ordered a camera and had the package stolen several weeks ago. The culprit was most certainly someone renting a room ie. -someone living in the house with us. Although the objects that I ordered do not have a lot of value (being shoes and what not) -I don't want to lose them. I thought about the feasability of sending myself a package with some sort of transponder in it -to catch the package thief. Has anyone here tried something like this? Does anyone here have any other ideas on either: a) catching the package thief or b) Preventing the thief from stealing. Thanks

10-01-2005, 10:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	My sister had this problem a year ago, and she went to the post office. They were absolutely no help. She ended up renting a post office box for this very reason...but her neighbor was taking all her mail, not just her packages. I really don't have an solutions for you, except renting a post office box. Or using a company that requires you being home to accept the box. __________________ "They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king" Formerly Medusa

10-01-2005, 10:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
oberon Quadrature Amplitude Modulator Location: Denver	Camera surveillance? Your best bet is probably to have all packages held, and report the packages stolen for a reason. Or don't allow them to leave packages. Odd thing is... there was a package from Dell shipped via USPS that was in the publically-accessible mail area in my apartment building, and it was there for about a week before it disappeared. Clearly around here people don't steal things... __________________ "There are finer fish in the sea than have ever been caught." -- Irish proverb

10-01-2005, 10:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
sprocket Psycho Location: In transit	4 easy steps to catch your theif. 1: See if you can get ahold of some paint bombs.. the kind banks use to help catch robbers. 2: Put it in a very conspicous valuble looking box. 3:Mail it to yourself. 4: Sit back and wait for the magic to happen. __________________ Remember, wherever you go... there you are.

10-01-2005, 12:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
Gilda 32 flavors and then some Location: Out on a wire.	The best solution is to rent a mailbox at a Mailboxes etc. or other mailbox store, and have all packages sent there. They'll sign for you and hold your packages until you're ready to pick them up. Actually catching the thief would probably involve camera surveillance. Gilda __________________ I'm against ending blackness. I believe that everyone has a right to be black, it's a choice, and I support that. ~Steven Colbert

10-01-2005, 10:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
flstf Easy Rider Location: Moscow on the Ohio	Maybe plant a bogus package with one of those exploding dye things that the banks put in money bags to catch robbers? Wasn't there a story not too long ago where someone gift wrapped their garbage during a sanitation workers strike and left the packages out in the open for thieves or is that just another urban legend?

10-01-2005, 11:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
Astrocloud Apocalypse Nerd	Does anyone know where to buy an exploding dye pack?

10-01-2005, 12:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
feelgood Free Mars! Location: I dunno, there's white people around me saying "eh" all the time	If you're shipping via Fedex or UPS, you can request that they hold your package for you to pick it up for free. I guess that wouldn't work if you live too far from the station. Plus, coming up with a sign like that can be illegal, the police is not actually involved and yet, you're making a sign that shows that they are involved. __________________ Looking out the window, that's an act of war. Staring at my shoes, that's an act of war. Committing an act of war? Oh you better believe that's an act of war

10-01-2005, 01:15 PM	#11 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	Speaking of illegal, I can only think that mailing yourself an exploding device is.

10-01-2005, 01:25 PM	#12 (permalink)
Astrocloud Apocalypse Nerd	Maybe a siren then.

10-01-2005, 01:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	ooooo the siren could be a good way to go... wouldnt be hard to setup a little booby trap so when the box lid is opened it pulls a pin out from between 2 contacts which then complete the circuit and set off the siren... there are even little self defense sirens that are pretty small and really loud, i'm sure one of those could be modified to fit your needs.... any way you set it up you want it to be hard to turn off... __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

10-01-2005, 03:30 PM	#15 (permalink)
Thorny Upright Location: Ohio	Huh, in the areas I've lived, the postmaster would have started a federal investigation! I suppose huge cities are a bit different, though. ..and the postmaster wouldn't care if it was FedEx or UPS.

10-01-2005, 04:10 PM	#16 (permalink)
Fremen With a mustache, the cool factor would be too much Location: left side of my couch, East Texas	Use some of that spray stuff on your package, like on CSI, and then get you a UV light to see who's been handling your package without your consent. __________________ Google

10-01-2005, 04:56 PM	#17 (permalink)
la petite moi Filling the Void. Location: California	How about just get a PO Box? Maybe you can send a message to the seller asking them to make sure you have to sign for it?

10-01-2005, 06:45 PM	#18 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	I love the idea of setting up a siren. That could be fun while still accomplishing your goal. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

10-01-2005, 07:08 PM	#19 (permalink)
lindalove Registered User	Punish them. Get an electronics box of some sort. Fill a big tupperware bowl with rotting fish. Glue the bowl inside the box. Glue the top of the box to the top of the tupperware as you are sealing it. You may be able to tell whose room the stink is coming from. If not, you will at least have some satisfaction!

10-01-2005, 08:00 PM	#20 (permalink)
Vincentt Addict Location: Tokyo, Japan	order something from the unibomber. __________________ .

10-01-2005, 10:33 PM	#21 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	Three ways to go, in the future, that aren't fantasy-revenge: 1. Get a P.O. Box. Always good to have, especially if you move around in the same town. Avoids so many changes of address. 2. U.P.S. bought Mailboxes Etc. a couple of years back, and now all the old MBEtc stores are UPS stores. You can have any package sent c/o yourself at a UPS store, even if it's not shipped UPS. They'll receive it for you and hold it for you. Of course, you pay. I think it's $5. Call the local store, if you have one, and check it out. 3. Have the package sent as certified mail. It costs more, of course. But the postman won't leave the package unless somebody signs, and unless they come right out of your door, the postman will ask for ID. And if there's nobody to sign, the postman leaves a yellow slip and you retrieve it at the PO the next day. (And if somebody steals the yellow slip and tries to get the package, be assured that they _will_ be asked for ID.)

10-18-2005, 08:15 AM	#22 (permalink)
Astrocloud Apocalypse Nerd	I am happy to say that I posted the sign (above) and I believe that I made the thief paranoid enough -so as not to mess with my packages. They came and were unmolested. I do have a plan for the thief which presently I won't do because I am going to move. Here is the plan anyways... By some cheap but interesting Curio like this: Put on some rubber gloves and coat the whole item with some of this "thief detection powder". It will turn whoever handles -the object's hands purple.

10-18-2005, 02:04 PM	#23 (permalink)
AquaFox WaterDog	send yourself a box with some sorta cheap weight to it, then when it gets to you, all nicely postmarked and stuff, rig it up with some string and whatever, some insane contraption that sets off a air horn, fries and flips eggs, cooks toast, pours milk, takes a picture, and makes a burping and ding noises __________________ ...AquaFox...

10-19-2005, 07:32 AM	#24 (permalink)
Poppinjay You had me at hello Location: DC/Coastal VA	Um, how about actually making a police report? Other than that, I favor browsing ACME's latest catalog of road runner capturing devices. Get the one where the owner rockets into a painting of a road while the road runner runs right through it. __________________ I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet