New Doorbell Could Help Prevent Thieves From Stealing Packages

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - It is shopping the easy way. You buy something online and it shows up right at your front door.

Unfortunately, that can make your house an easy target for thieves, especially at this time of the year.

Now, a simple, new device may keep your package deliveries from getting swiped.

"There are suspects that go out there, usually driven by drug abuse and they will follow Fed Ex trucks," security analyst Ed Davis said.

Now, you can answer your door, even when you're not home.

"So, if someone rings the doorbell, it will ring on the cell phone and you can speak to and see the person who is at the door and they can speak to you," Benjamin Levy said.

It's called "Ring" and Levy has one at his front and back doors.

"I can talk to the UPS guy and ask him to put the package in another location if I want, or to leave it with a neighbor that I know is home," Levy said.

The device is not just about protecting the packages on your porch.

According Davis, it could prevent a thief from breaking into your home.

"They'll ring a door bell, knock on the door and when no one shows up, they feel comfortable forcing the door," he said.

Levy is convinced he stopped a burglar from entering his home.

"It was clear he was just making up an excuse for having rang the doorbell and had not expected anyone to be answering," he said.

There is also a social media site called Next Door that helps neighbors keep a watchful eye on each other's homes.

The site also allows homeowners to share surveillance footage.

Next Door is free.

The Ring door bell is $200, with a $30 annual fee to record and store video of all the activity at your door.

"There are people paying a lot more money than that to have their premises monitored. so this is limited to the front door, it doesn't cover the whole house, but I think it's very helpful," Davis said.

Davis said the surveillance video can also help catch thieves because the camera is lower than traditional surveillance cameras. As a result, it can get a much better view of the thief's face.

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