Ottawa neighbourhood association issues warning about ‘friendly neighbourhood porch pirates’

The intersection of Sherwood Dr. and Reid Ave. in Ottawa's Civic Hospital neighbourhood. (CTV News Ottawa)

An Ottawa community association is urging its residents to protect their deliveries, after several packages disappeared shortly after being delivered this month.

 “Our friendly neighbourhood porch pirates are back with the good weather and packages are being picked off of their porch once they’re delivered,” Karen Wright, president of the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association, told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron.

The Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association represents approximately 2,000 homes in the area of the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus. Its boundaries are Highway 417 to the north, the O-Train Corridor in the east, Carling Avenue at the south end and Island Park Drive in the west.

Wright says “a few people” have filed reports with Ottawa police in recent weeks that packages were stolen shortly after being delivered.

“One of the folks that let us know they had a problem had this all covered on video. At 6:13 the delivery came, and at 6:15 the fellow stole the package,” Wright said.

“Even if you got the alert that the delivery has happened and you think, OK, I’ll take this extra sip of coffee and go downstairs and get the package, you may still miss it.”

The community association recommends people take steps to protect their packages, including having your parcel delivered to a local Canada Post outlet instead of your door.

Other suggestions to protect your packages from the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association include: ship packages to a secure pick-up destination, require a signature for a delivery, give instructions to the delivery company for hiding a package on your porch and setting up a security camera.

Wright says thefts from porches have increased since COVID when people started purchasing more items online.

“Spring, we do see quite a bit because the weather is good and, typically, these people are walking or maybe biking to get around the neighbourhood to pick up numerous packages.”

The Ottawa Police Service recommends people file a report if they have packages stolen from their porch or mailbox and keep any surveillance footage they have.