In a patent filing, Amazon said "parcel pilferage is a pernicious and persistent problem," but it isn't fooling around. It proceeded to outline techniques to detect unauthorized removal of a parcel from a person's front step and potentially sound the alarm.
"Parcel carriers frequently leave parcels near the front door of a home when no one answers the door at the time of delivery. These parcels are vulnerable to theft, as they are often clearly visible from the street. This problem has only gotten worse with the proliferation of online commerce, and is particularly common around major holidays when many consumers do their holiday shopping online.
"It would be advantageous, therefore, if the functionality of wireless A/V recording and communication devices could be leveraged to deter parcel theft and/or to identify and apprehend parcel thieves. It would also be advantageous if the functionality of wireless A/V recording and communication devices could be enhanced in one or more ways to deter parcel theft and/or to identify and apprehend parcel thieves."
Amazon is uniquely qualified to understand the problem of package theft: in a single transaction, Amazon can be the merchant (and payment processor), the shipping carrier, and the operator of the recipient's security system, such as a Ring doorbell.
Here's one way it conceived of determining whether the removal of a package from a drop-off position is authorized (assuming the homeowner has security cameras): determining whether a package is moving toward or away from the home once it's picked up:
"For example, when a parcel is left outside the front entrance of a home, the homeowner (or other occupant) will typically pick up the parcel and bring it inside the home. A parcel thief, by contrast, will typically pick up the parcel and carry it away from the home."
Have you ever had a package stolen? Are you skeptical when buyers complain of package theft?
And, can Amazon technology geeks crack the problem?
The AuctionBytes Blog has been giving a voice to online merchants since its launch in 2005. Named one of the world's top 30 blogs in 2008 by "Blogging Heroes." Weigh in with your thoughts on the joys and pitfalls of selling online.
Amazon Alliterates Problem of Parcel Pilferage in Patent
by: COVID-19 
by: cfrphoto