This New Jersey City Is Using GPS Tracking Devices To Catch Porch Pirates

03:48

December 17, 2018

This image taken from video shows an Amazon package containing a GPS tracker on the porch of a Jersey City, N.J. residence after its delivery Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018. The explosion in online shopping has led to porch pirates and stoop surfers swiping holiday packages from unsuspecting residents. Jersey City cops are trying to catch the thieves with some trickery of their own. (Robert Bumsted/AP)

This article is more than 4 years old.

The increase in the number of package deliveries before Christmas brings an increase in theft in many towns and cities. The police in Jersey City, New Jersey, are planting GPS tracking devices in boxes that look like Amazon deliveries, and are also installing doorbell cameras in order to catch thieves — also known as porch pirates — who take packages from front porches.

Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson talks with Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop), mayor of Jersey City, about the city's efforts.

This segment aired on December 17, 2018.

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