This time of year is a feeding frenzy for porch pirates, who seek out unattended packages outside our homes. Video doorbells and outdoor cameras help to prevent this, but security engineers have revealed one of the most effective, and overlooked, methods: A doorbell siren.
Now that may seem like overkill, but it's a feature that's included anyway in the Arlo 2K Video Doorbell, discounted to just $42.99 right now, that will massively upgrade your home security while still enjoying the other benefits the doorbell provides. I wish I had known about it when one of my holiday parcels was stolen from my porch recently.
The Arlo 2K Video Doorbell's Siren Feature Will Deter Thieves and Intruders
On test, we loved the Arlo 2K Video Doorbell's great set of features, too, including clear picture quality day or night.
After a parcel was stolen from my front door by an opportunistic thief, I asked security pros what features I should activate on my video doorbell.
'The built-in siren on video doorbells like Arlo’s transforms a passive camera into an active deterrent, and that can make all the difference when it comes to preventing porch piracy,' shares Mike Halbouni, security camera and telecommunications expert at PoyntGuard Security.
'This sudden alarm can startle or scare off would-be thieves before they reach packages on your porch,' he continues, emphasizing just how much of a positive impact it can have on your home security.
Porch pirates thrive when it's dark and quiet, as they can quickly grab a parcel and leave before anybody realizes. Having a loud, bright, and disruptive alert sounding from the front of your property will not only alert you and your neighbors to what's happening, but also prevent the intruder from acting stealthily.
You can also set this feature manually or automatically and choose the parameters that will set it off.
Rebecca Edwards, safety expert and managing editor at SafeWise, agrees, 'The benefit of the Arlo Video Doorbell's siren is that it adds an extra layer to your defenses – an active one that can disrupt a package theft in progress.'
'Porch pirates are brazen, and they're engaged in a high-opportunity, low-risk crime that relies on getting away with your stuff as quickly and quietly as possible. I've seen time and again that noises, voices, and other deterrents, like flashing lights, are more effective than a doorbell camera alone,' she continues.
That's the key benefit compared to video doorbells without this feature, such as the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus. Video doorbells are useful when providing evidence after incidents happen, whereas a siren can prevent the intrusion while it's happening.
'With a siren, you are proactively deterring the crime in real time,' Mike shares. 'Studies and industry guidance show that visible cameras deter many burglars, but they are far more effective when paired with additional security cues such as alarms, lights, and audible warnings, rather than relying on video alone.'
That's not to say that the video doorbell alone isn't already one of the best security measures for a house. We loved the Arlo 2K's crisp picture quality during testing, providing a 180-degree vertical and horizontal view, that you can see at night or during the day.
It was also super easy to install; all you need is a screwdriver (or drill if mounting on brick), and the instructions are straightforward to follow.
And now that it's $80 off for Cyber Week, you can get it at the lowest price it's ever been since it was released.
The Arlo 2K Video Doorbell is available for $49.99.
More to Shop
Here are a few more steps you can take to up your home security and protect your front porch.
All prices correct at time of publication.
This Entry Sensor is a simple, inexpensive security step that will protect against intruders, sounding an alarm if there's ever forced entry to your property. You get more features in tandem with a eufy doorbell like the eufy E340, which is our favorite subscription-free video doorbell – but it works by itself, too.
We're still testing the Lorex 2K and we're enjoying what we've seen so far, and like the Arlo, it comes with a built-in siren. It's also available in black, a more muted design that won't stand out as much on darker porches.
If you already own a Ring doorbell and don't fancy switching, you can upgrade your security setup with this alarm kit, that can sound alarms and give you alerts from multiple points throughout your home.
Renting? Here are the best renter-friendly security options that don't involved drilling into the property.
