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DIY parcel trap for box thieves

Started Dec 20, 2018 | Discussions
wklee Veteran Member • Posts: 9,964
DIY parcel trap for box thieves
1

Mark Rober, an ex NASA engineer built a glitter bomb with fart spray for unsuspecting thieves who pick up his package. Inside the square box are 4 Android phones for a 360 degree view of the action. With GPS to record and track movement for eventual recovery of the trap when it's discarded. Evidence downloaded to cloud also.

https://youtu.be/xoxhDk-hwuo

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nail33 Senior Member • Posts: 1,054
Re: DIY parcel trap for box thieves

I love it !!! Thanks for sharing.

OP wklee Veteran Member • Posts: 9,964
Porch thieves or porch pirates

nail33 wrote:

I love it !!! Thanks for sharing.

Sounds like potentially a big issue in the US.

https://www.komando.com/tips/458740/tricks-to-keep-packages-from-being-stolen-off-your-porch

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Never buy version 1.0 of anything.
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
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Leswick II Senior Member • Posts: 2,192
Re: DIY parcel trap for box thieves

I get his concern, but there are ways around that without having anyone access to the box......or all that work and expense.  One can build a stout container box with self-locking (push down type) mechanism.  The day your item box is to arrive, you leave it open and USPS/FEDEX/UPS is instructed (on stout container) to push the lid down, after they drop off the item that one has ordered.

Since you (or your partner) has key to the stout container, the box will not walk away.  :>)

neilt3
neilt3 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,011
Re: DIY parcel trap for box thieves

I suppose it could be considered excessive ( by the police ) to swap glitter and fart spray with a block of C4 set to go after it leaves your premises ?

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JustUs7 Senior Member • Posts: 4,338
Re: DIY parcel trap for box thieves

As he notes in his own YouTube videos, he does it primarily for entertainment and to play “gotcha” with the thieves. But police are unlikely to pursue any action and the thieves generally just laugh at it. Even porch cameras don’t result in arrests. At best they’re a deterrent.

Most items are insured anyway and the only items we’ve had stolen, we were made whole by the sellers. Frankly, from early years in retail, you don’t confront thieves. Stuff is replaceable. Lives aren’t.

That said, it is entertaining. And sad. Watching grown ups caught on camera training their kids to be thieves.

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JustUs7 Senior Member • Posts: 4,338
Re: DIY parcel trap for box thieves

neilt3 wrote:

I suppose it could be considered excessive ( by the police ) to swap glitter and fart spray with a block of C4 set to go after it leaves your premises ?

A dye pack would/could prove helpful and safer.

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MikeInOr
MikeInOr Senior Member • Posts: 1,630
Re: DIY parcel trap for box thieves

I whole hearted condemn posting stupid youtube video links in forums like this...  BUT I LOVED THAT VIDEO!!!!!

LOL!!!!

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stevie wonder
stevie wonder Senior Member • Posts: 1,296
Re: DIY parcel trap for box thieves
1

I think a simple nail bomb would be better🤯.

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