Package Guard Makes Porch Thieves Think Twice

When a delivery containing coats for the homeless was stolen off his front porch, a frustrated Michael Grabham decided to do something about the problem. And it is a nationwide problem.  Every year more than 23 million newly-delivered packages are stolen from in front of people’s homes. In most cases, unless the package is insured, the recipient is left not only with the loss of the item but with a logistical headache trying to track it.

With a goal of “stopping thieves in their tracks,” Grabham, who is a five-time entrepreneur and Startup Grind’s 2015 Chapter Director of the Year, invented the Package Guard, a new connected device that provides monitoring of new deliveries. He then launched a Kickstarter campaign that raised $42,265 — exceeding its goal — and garnered press in the Huffington Post, ZDnet and GeekWire..

The Package Guard is a Frisbee-sized alarm device that sits near a front door and establishes a clear delivery location for courier services with a large text that reads: “PLACE PACKAGE HERE.” Once a delivery is placed on the Package Guard, an alarm is set automatically, and the only way to remove the package is by entering a passcode into the Package Guard app. If someone without the passcode removes the item, the Package Guard sets off a loud alarm. The app also integrates with surveillance cameras so that users can get images of anyone disturbing the package and share them with police or on Facebook to warn neighbors.

Grabham believes his company offers a product that not only cuts down on theft, but makes the homeowner feel more secure in general.  “With an increasing number of people ordering items delivered to their homes, I wanted to create a simple solution to protect a delivery when no one is there,” he said. “The Package Guard’s alarm makes it it virtually impossible to steal deliveries without being noticed. It puts ‘porch pirates’ out of business.”