When it comes to catching thieves, some use surveillance cameras, while others say catching them on camera just isn't enough.
One Tacoma man wants to *scare* them too so they never come back.
The tool he uses to do that is called the blank box and he says business is booming!
Jaireme barrow / 'blank box' inventor:
"I got tired of all my packages coming up missing, I'd be at work and I'd get home and they wouldn`t be on my front porch, and I'd watch my surveillance and see someone running away with them," the box's inventor Jaireme Barrow said.
He says the idea came out of necessity, and last year he started booby trapping empty boxes using shotgun blanks and fishing wire.
"I wanted a way to scare them safely and when you scare them hopefully they are gonna drop the package and then run away and never come back," Barrow said.
Jarieme says his blank box works-- sending thieves running from his porch time and time again.
"It's just like any alarm system, it's just a loud noise and it deters theft but it just happens to be a 12 gauge blank in this case," he said.
One year later, and Jaireme`s blank box has turned into big business.
"So it's all hands on made in America and every one of these is built with love," he said.
He's now selling the Blank Box on his website. The website also features t-shirts that say "don't touch my package!"
Experts recommend the following steps if your package does go missing:
- Try calling the seller or retailer where you bought the item to see if they will refund or replace. Places like Amazon, Walmart, and other big retailers may work with you since its their reputation.
- If that doesn't work, try the shipping carrier to see if they will help.
- Last resort, try reporting a missing package to your credit card company. Some major carriers will reimburse if you have proof it went missing.
