Part of the magic of online shopping is that the items you want will be brought right to your front door, ideally in a matter of hours or days. But if you’re not around to carry your packages inside, you could easily fall victim to “porch pirates” looking to snatch up your boxes before you do. One recent survey from Vivint, a smart home security company, found that at least 29 percent of people in the U.S. reported that they’d been the victim of package theft, adding up to an average of about $74 of stolen goods per person since the beginning of the pandemic.

Instead of risking it by leaving your items sitting outside all day long, experts suggest requesting a signature for delivery to make sure someone is around to receive the package and safely bring it inside. The extra step can save you time in the long run, especially true for any expensive or rare items you’re purchasing that could be harder to replace or be reimbursed for later.