Here's a pattern I see every year. Holiday shipping ramps up in mid-November and stays heavy straight through December, and package theft climbs right along with it. More boxes on more doorsteps means more chances for one to go missing before you get home from work.
I've been a locksmith in Boston for over 15 years, and my customers bring this up every winter. The good news is that a few smart changes make a real difference, and most of them are cheap and quick. Let's walk through them.
Why Boston Doors Are a Tough Case
If you live in a rowhouse, a triple-decker, or a building with a shared front door, you already know the problem. A box dropped on a stoop sits in plain view from the sidewalk. Anyone walking by can see it, and it can sit there for hours while you're at work. Multi-unit buildings often make it worse, because there's rarely a secure package room. Boxes pile up in the vestibule or on the front steps, and nobody is responsible for them.
The fix isn't to stay home all December. It's to make your packages harder to see and harder to reach.
What Actually Helps
1. Change where the package goes
This is the easiest win and it costs nothing. Most delivery services let you add instructions: leave it at the side door, the back door, or somewhere out of view from the street. You can also send packages to a pickup location or a locker instead of your home. A box that nobody can see from the sidewalk is a box nobody is tempted by.
2. Use a locking parcel box
A locking delivery box that's bolted down near your door gives the driver a place to drop the package and gives you a place that stays shut. The word that matters there is bolted. A box that can be picked up and carried off isn't doing its job. Mount it into something solid, and place it where it isn't the first thing visible from the street. No product is untouchable, but a secured box beats a package sitting in the open every time.
3. Add keypad or smart entry for deliveries
If you have a garage, a side entry, or a vestibule, a keypad lock lets you hand out a temporary code for a delivery. The driver puts the package inside, and you delete the code afterward. No hidden key, no copies floating around, and you know exactly who had access. Our smart lock installation is built around this kind of setup, and I'll always make sure the mechanical lock behind the keypad is a good one, since that matters as much as the electronics. If you're also tired of hiding spares, I wrote about why the doormat isn't a hiding spot, and the same keypad idea solves both problems.
4. If you manage a multi-unit building
Landlords and property managers, this one is for you. A locked package room or mailroom with controlled access is far better than a pile of boxes in the lobby. Residents get in with a key or a keypad code, and strangers don't. If your building already runs on a keyed system, a master key system can let residents and staff reach the package room without handing everyone a different key. Tenants notice when packages stop vanishing, and that's good for everyone.
5. Cameras and lighting help, but they aren't a lock
A doorbell camera and good lighting can discourage someone from stopping at your door, and the footage is useful if something does go missing. But they record a problem rather than prevent it. Think of them as a good second layer, and pair them with something physical, like a locked box or a protected entry, that actually keeps the package where it belongs.
6. Lean on your neighbors, and your schedule
Ask a neighbor to grab your packages when you're away, and offer to do the same for them. Boston stoops are friendlier than people think. For a big delivery, schedule it for a time when you know you'll be home, or ship it to a trusted address. Small habits add up quickly during the holiday rush.
Start With One Change
You don't need to do all six. Pick the one that fits your door. For many people that's a delivery instruction and a neighbor. For a building with a shared entry, it's a secured package room. For a home with a side door or garage, it's a keypad entry with temporary codes.
If you're in a dense neighborhood like Back Bay, where so many homes share a single entry and the stoop is right on the sidewalk, these small changes matter even more. And if you want help figuring out what makes sense for your own door, just ask. We handle everything from a single keypad lock to a full set of residential lock services, and I'm happy to tell you what I'd do at my own house.
Have a safe, well-delivered holiday season.
City Locksmith 24/7 is a Commonwealth-registered business that's helped Boston homeowners keep their doors secure for over 15 years. Learn more about how we work, or call (617) 383-7290 anytime.