If you shop online this holiday season, one thing you need to be aware of are the porch pirates. They are the thieves who pick up your packages delivered and left on your porch.

Consumers lose millions each year. not only is it the cost, but the violation of someone getting that close to your home. There are ways to avoid this, however:

• You can have packages delivered to your back door.
• You can have them delivered to a P.O. Box
• You can have a trusted neighbor pick them up
• You can request to sign for them.

These are just a few ways to protect your home and your gifts. Are there others your know about? Tell us in the comments.

You can also contact us for more information! Feel free to shoot us an email to Outreach@ConsiderTheConsumer.com. You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or even connect with us directly on our website!

Similarly, please check out our current list of Class Actions and Class Action Investigations, here.

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About the Author: Aisha K. Staggers is a writer, lecturer, political analyst and literary agent. She appears weekly for “Staggers’ State of Things” on the Dr. Vibe Show. Her work has been published by Paper Magazine, AfroPunk, The Spool, GREY Journal, MTV News, HuffPost, Blavity, Atlanta Blackstar, For Harriet, New York Review of Books and a host of other first-run publications and syndicated outlets. Find her on Twitter @AishaStaggers. For more of her work, check out her page here!