Holiday Deliveries: 4 Home Security Tips

Cooler mornings and evenings are finally here in Arizona. We have officially survived another summer. Front doors are open, patios are back in use, and holiday packages are landing on your doorstep again. Package theft peaks this time of year, and according to Omnisend’s 2025 Porch Piracy Report, Arizona households lost an average of $298 to porch pirates over the year. Don’t worry, with a few new habits and the right physical barriers, your packages will be safe this holiday season.

1. Plan Your Deliveries Around Your Schedule

The simplest way to protect a package is to keep it from sitting outside for long periods of time. 

• Turn on tracking alerts so you know the moment a package arrives, and make sure to bring it inside as soon as you can.
• Schedule deliveries for days you’re home, or try to ship them to your workplace if your company allows it.
• Require a signature on high-value items when the carrier offers it; that way, they are never unattended.
• Add delivery instructions that guide drivers to a spot that’s out of view from the street.

That last point leads right into our next tip.

2. Give Packages a Place Out of Sight

Most porch theft is a crime of opportunity. The Omnisend’s report showed that 98% of stolen packages were visible from the street, proving that when a package is easy to spot, it’s much more tempting.

That’s where a courtyard or entry gate proves to be extremely valuable for your home. A steel security gate around your front entry creates a guarded space between the street and your door, so deliveries hide behind a barrier instead of in plain view. It also adds another layer of security to your home all year, not just during the holidays.

A few things to think through:

• Match the look of your home. A custom entry gate can complement your front door, window screens, and style.
• Keep your entryway an open area of your home. Steel gates preserve the open feel Arizona entryways are known for, while still securing the area.

3. Answer the Door Without Opening Up Your Home

Between gift deliveries, holiday guests, and the occasional solicitor, your front door gets a lot of attention in November and December. A steel security door gives you peace of mind during this higher traffic time.

With a steel security door, you can open your main door to see who’s there, talk to a delivery driver, or sign for a package. During this, the physical barrier stays between you and your front porch without feeling closed off. 

Fall is open-door season, and a security door lets the cool breeze in while keeping the dog from bolting every time your doorbell rings. Because every Steel Advantage door is custom-measured, built, and installed to fit your entry, it looks as good as it works and adds holiday-ready curb appeal.

4. Keep Your Home Security Going While You Travel

Heading out of town for the holidays? A little prior preparation keeps your home looking lived-in and your deliveries from piling up on the porch.

• Hold your mail with USPS’s free Hold Mail service, and reschedule deliveries while you’re away.
• Ask a neighbor to grab anything that shows up unexpectedly.
• Put lights on timers so the house doesn’t look abandoned at night.
• Check your cameras and video doorbell to make sure alerts are reaching your phone.
• Lock every gate, door, and window before you leave.

Your camera can tell you what happened, but physical barriers help keep anything from happening from the start. Steel security screens on your windows and doors add another layer of protection while you’re gone. 

Give Your Home Security a Holiday Upgrade

The holidays should be about family, good food, and enjoying Arizona’s cool weather, not worrying about what’s on, or not on, your doorstep. A few smart habits with the right steel security products can give you real peace of mind all season long.

Steel Advantage is a family-owned Arizona company that has been building custom security doors, window screens, gates, and patio enclosures for over 15 years. Every product is custom-built to fit your home and backed by lifetime warranties.

Ready to see what would work for your home? Get your free quote today.