August Home Pitches Smart Home Gear as Deterrent to Package Theft

Smart home product company August Home is pitching doorbell cameras and smart door locks as ways to combat package theft. The rise of online shopping bumped up home deliveries, and 70 percent of U.S. homeowners expect to receive packages during the holiday season, said the company in a Tuesday news release. Homeowners’ smart home options to reduce the likelihood of package theft include being able to see the delivery person from inside their homes via webcam, watching him or her enter and exit, speaking to the people as they enter and exit the home and remotely locking the door after the person leaves. In the case of foul play, smart home technology can be used to identify thieves and give information to authorities, said the company.