Stop holiday package theft: 5 smart home security devices that protect your deliveries
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’Tis the season for package delivery! And, unfortunately—it can also be the season for package theft. (File under, the last thing we need in 2020.)
We want to make sure your stuff stays safe while it’s sitting on your porch—it’s all about security. A smart security camera can keep tabs on your property (when you’re out or just upstairs), can allow you to say something if you see something (“Hey, hands off that package”), and can give you easy access to video footage should you need it.
We rounded up the best and brightest smart home security cameras at Amazon to help you find what you need. And if you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
Scroll to find great options for keeping your packages—and more—safe this season.
Ring Video Doorbell 3
On sale for $140 (was $200), the Ring Video Doorbell 3 isn’t a regular doorbell at all. It’s a smart doorbell with 24/7 HD video streaming and a wide field of view. Simply sync the device with your smartphone, tablet or laptop via Wi-Fi and the Ring app, so you can always keep an eye on your home—even if you’re at work, on vacation or running a quick errand.
Powered with a rechargeable battery or hardwired to an existing doorbell system, this smart home doorbell has two-way talk, so you can chat with anyone at your door without physically answering it. This is great for taking deliveries when you’re social distancing, or when you want to confront someone who’s not supposed to be at your house—like an intruder or unwanted guest.
“I never miss a package or a visitor,” raved a five-star Amazon reviewer. “For years we had an old door with a big knocker and a dog, so we were very aware of visitors and people coming onto the porch. We now have a new door (no knocker) and, unfortunately, no dog. Very quickly we realized that we were missing knocks and packages would sit outside for hours or even all day. With the Ring, we always know when it's time to check the porch!”
Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener with Amazon Key
Haven’t given a lot of thought to a smart home device that handles your garage? You should. It means you can have deliveries made to a safe spot when you’re not home, opening and closing the garage as needed.
On sale for $30 (was $40), the Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener is universal, so it works with your existing garage door (no need to replace the door altogether). Just add this smart home system to your existing opener (as long as it was made after 1993) and you’re good to go. It’s an add-on to all the standard safety sensors that your garage door opener already provides. You use the MyQ app to open and close the garage from anywhere. This smart home device comes in very handy when you’re away and have packages coming.
Shoppers love how easy it is to schedule openings and closings, and to get up-to-the-minute alerts. “Works as promised. I installed it in a couple minutes, and can control the doors with my phone,” wrote a happy five-star Amazon reviewer. “My favorite parts are the schedule and the alerts. I programmed my doors to shut at 9pm everyday. This prevents leaving them open overnight, automatically. I also set it to notify me if the doors are left open for more than 45 minutes.”
Amazon Key
In addition, the Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener also comes with a free $30 credit to Amazon Key, an in-garage delivery service that protects packages against bad weather, theft and damage.
Here’s how it works: Instead of delivery people leaving your package in front of your door, they safely access your garage with the MyQ app. Amazon authorizes the delivery, and sends you a notification when packages are being delivered and the service is accessed. Amazon in-garage delivery drivers, who are vetted with background checks, will securely slip the package inside your garage.
“The integration with Amazon Prime is fantastic,” wrote a savvy shopper. “Getting an early notification from Amazon the night before, then getting a notification that it was delivered is great!...I don't have to worry about having my package stolen (I had two stolen in the last two years), as they are now delivered into the garage, with the delivery person not taking more than one step into the garage (verified on cam). Nice!”
Amazon will also guarantee delivery and refund you for property damage, or if anything gets stolen or goes missing. Check out Amazon Key for more info and details.
Yi Security Camera
The YI Outdoor Security Camera—which is on sale for $34, or 15 percent off at Amazon—has some incredible features, but its 24/7 emergency response service might be the one that sets it apart from its peers. This camera also has state-of-the-art motion detectors that’ll send an alert to your phone if they sense someone nearby. So if you have a package stolen from your property, then this smart home device will also contact first responders like police officers. And Amazon shoppers love that it can give them peace of mind, but at a wallet-friendly price.
“Neat camera that provides a very good picture; good app with many settings that dial them in,” wrote a delighted five-star reviewer. “Free cloud storage for a couple of days rolling along with SD card should provide good security at a low cost.”
HeimVision PTZ Security Camera
For a 360-degree view of your property, the HeimVision PTZ Security Camera, on sale for just $54, will do the trick. This smart home security camera is weatherproof, so it can record come rain or shine. It can also tilt, pan, zoom and can automatically follow subjects, thanks to its two-camera HD system that’s all controllable with your phone. There’s a floodlight, state-of-the-art motion detection and two-way talk, so prowlers can easily get caught on your property—even at night. It also records footage on an SD card!
“This camera is amazing,” noted a delighted shopper. “I was looking for a security cam that was simple to use, works as expected and at a good price and this camera has it all.”
eufy Security Wi-Fi 2K Video Doorbell
For a crystal-clear view of who’s knocking, the eufy Security Wi-Fi 2K Video Doorbell offers sharp 2K resolution in full screen on your smartphone or tablet. It records with HDR (High Dynamic Range) for bright, vivid color too.
It also has a two-way speaker system, so you can talk to visitors at your door via the eufy app—even if you’re away. Bonus: It’ll only send you a notification when it detects the presence of a human, instead of alerting you to every time a stray dog or cat comes to your doorstep.
“So impressed with the video quality of this doorbell,” shared a satisfied shopper. “It doesn't send me notifications when a car drives by, only when a human face is detected. And you can zoom in so close that you can see every blemish. LOL! I don't need to pay a subscription to access my videos, huge plus! I've been raving about this doorbell to friends, sharing videos and screenshots to show them I'm not exaggerating about the quality.”
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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