Online shopping has created tremendous growth opportunities for retailers of all sizes, as well as shippers such as FedEx, UPS, and USPS.
Unfortunately, it's also spawned a new breed of criminal known as the porch pirate.
According to a 2017 insuranceQuotes study, more than 25 million people had packages stolen from their property by individuals who roam neighborhoods seeking unattended boxes.
Security cameras such as the Ring Spotlight Cam may act as a deterrent and can help you identify a porch pirate, but they won't prevent theft.
Enter the BoxLock ($129), a Wi-Fi-enabled smart padlock with a built-in scanner that lets delivery agents secure your packages in a storage box (not included) where would-be thieves can't see or get to them.
It's a great concept that has the potential to eliminate package theft, but it requires cooperation from all the major delivery companies, and more importantly, their drivers.
Design and Features
The bright yellow and black BoxLock is hard to miss, and that's by design: The folks at BoxLock wanted to make it as easy as possible for delivery people to find it and use it.
The lock measures 6.5 by 2.6 by 2.0 inches (HWD) and sports a hardened steel shackle, a tamper-resistant zinc interior casing, and a weatherproof fiber-reinforced outer shell.
It has an internal rechargeable battery rated to last up to 30 days between charges, and comes with a USB charging adapter and cable, and a printed master barcode that you can use to open the lock if you don't have your phone handy.
The bottom part of the lock contains a barcode scanner that's activated by pressing the black button at the top of the lock.
Inside is a Wi-Fi radio (2.4GHz) that connects the lock to your home network and a Bluetooth radio for close-range communications.
The BoxLock will work with just about any size storage box with a hasp fastener; if you don't have one there are several links on the BoxLock website for purchasing plastic and wood boxes of all shapes and sizes.
Here's how it works: Place a storage container on your front steps or porch and fasten it with the BoxLock.
If you're worried that someone might make off with your storage box you can bolt it in place, but the main idea here is to keep packages out of sight and secure until you get home.
If a porch pirate doesn't see boxes on your steps, there's a good chance they'll move on to their next victim.
Using the BoxLock mobile app (for Android and iOS), you can link your BoxLock account to your UPS MyChoice, USPS (United States Postal Service), FedEx, and Amazon delivery accounts, all of which typically send emails with delivery information such as tracking numbers and delivery dates.
When a shipment is out for delivery, the app's Effortless Tracking feature will scan your email looking for this information and add it to your Packages list.
You can also manually input tracking information.
When the driver delivers the package to your house, they will use the lock to scan the shipping label barcode, which in turn unlocks it.
The driver can now place the package in the storage container and refasten the lock.
Once the barcode is scanned you'll receive an email and a text message alerting you that the package has arrived.
The BoxLock mobile app is where you go to set up the lock, unlock it, link it to your delivery accounts, and enter tracking and package information.
The Home screen shows the lock in its current state (locked or unlocked), its last activity, and its battery level.
Tap the icon to connect to the lock via Bluetooth, and tap it again to unlock it.
When unlocked, the icon will change to an open lock.
Below the lock icon is a button to Add a Package and another to Share Barcode Access.
Tap Add a Package to manually add shipments by tracking number and carrier.
The Share Barcode Access button has the app generate another master barcode that you can share with other users and limit access by date or number of uses.
To access the lock's settings, tap the three-bar icon in the upper left corner.
Here you can configure the Effortless Tracking feature, which takes your email information and scans your inbox for shipment notifications from FedEx, UPS, USPS, and Amazon Delivery.
It extracts tracking information from these emails and automatically creates an entry in the Packages screen with expected delivery dates and the current shipping status.
While this feature works with IMAP email and Gmail accounts, it does not support POP3 accounts, which is what I use.
However, you can manually enter tracking numbers and shipper information using the Add Package button.
The Connect Email menu setting is where you go to link one or more email accounts to your BoxLock account.
At the bottom of the Home screen are a Home button, a Packages button, and a Barcode Access button.
The Packages button opens a screen with a list of all package deliveries and their status (in transit, delivered, shipping now).
Tap any shipment to view the package's shipping log.
The Barcode Access button displays a list of all barcodes that have been created.
In the upper right corner of the Home screen is a gear icon that opens a screen where you can enable notification settings, view lock activity, configure Wi-Fi settings, and check the battery level.
Installation and Performance
Setting up the BoxLock is easy.
I downloaded the app and created an account using my full name, email address, and zip code, and made up a password.
I tapped Add a BoxLock and followed the steps to configure the lock.
I powered up the lock to initiate search mode, selected my Wi-Fi SSID from the list, and entered my Wi-Fi password.
The app asked for permission to pair with my phone's Bluetooth, asked for permission to send notifications, and setup was finished.
The folks at BoxLock sent me a Step2 Deluxe Package Delivery Box ($99) to use with the lock.
My first delivery was a battery charger that I ordered using my Amazon Prime account.
The Effortless Tracking feature was unable to read my email, so I entered the tracking number myself and it was added to my Packages list with an Out for Delivery status.
When the Amazon driver pulled up, I watched him place the box on the steps and return to his truck, never once glancing at the big box marked "Deliveries" on the front.
Before he could drive off, I asked him if he knew about BoxLock and he said he had no idea what it was.
Just for kicks, I scanned the shipping label and the lock immediately popped open and I received an email and a text message informing me that my package had been delivered.
In the Packages section of the app, the status was changed to Delivered.
Next up was a shipment delivered by UPS.
As before, the app was unable to read my email so I manually entered the tracking number and it was recognized and labeled Out for Delivery.
Once again, the driver simply placed the package on my front steps without trying the BoxLock.
I showed him the lock and explained its use, but he also said he had never heard of it before.
I finally printed out a sign with a brief explanation of the lock and how to use it.
I enclosed it in a plastic sheath to protect it from the rain and attached it to the hasp clamp on the storage box in plain sight.
I was expecting a FedEx delivery, and sure enough, I received a push notification and an email telling me that my FedEx package was delivered.
The driver not only scanned the package to open the lock but also relocked it after placing the package in the storage bin.
I had another UPS delivery scheduled later in the week; once again the packages were placed on my steps and not in the bin.
While viewing the recorded footage from my Vivint Doorbell Cam later on, I noticed that the UPS driver had glanced at the box and gave the instructions a quick look before leaving the boxes exposed.
A box scheduled to arrive via USPS was also placed on my doorstep without even a cursory glance at the storage bin or my instructions.
However, another package delivered via FedEx was scanned and placed in the box.
I should note that the FedEx driver who used BoxLock is my regular delivery guy—we know each other by name, and given the nature of my work and the volume of deliveries I get, we often chat about the latest tech, so it didn't surprise me that he used the lock.
He told me it was easy to use and only required an extra couple of seconds of his time.
As for the UPS drivers, they're constantly rotating and not very well known to me.
Conclusion
Designed to keep your packages safe from porch pirates, the BoxLock smart lock is easy to set up and will keep you up to date on the status of your expected deliveries.
Unlike the Amazon Key, you don't have to give delivery agents access to the inside of your home or car, but its effectiveness depends largely on cooperation from shippers such as Amazon Delivery, FedEx, UPS, and USPS.
In testing, only one of the drivers for these carriers used the BoxLock when delivering to my house, and only after I put up a sign with instructions on how to use it.
Other drivers simply bypassed the device and left the packages on my steps.
The folks at BoxLock have plans to bundle the lock with signage that will alert drivers of the lock's existence, but they will charge extra for it.
It would be a good idea for them to include a weatherproof instruction sheet as well.
They are also constantly working with the various carriers to raise awareness and educate them about BoxLock and its potential to significantly reduce package theft.
That said, until there is some sort of agreement with the major shipping companies that guarantees that their drivers will actually use BoxLock when making deliveries, its effectiveness as a theft deterrent will be hit or miss.
As an alternative, consider investing in an outdoor security camera or install a good video doorbell.
They may not prevent theft, but they will help you to identify who is pilfering your packages.
The Bottom Line
The BoxLock is an innovative smart lock designed to prevent package theft when used with a storage container.
