Police departments across the nation have reported a rise in package thefts from porches this holiday season.

With more and more people choosing to do their shopping online, more items are being delivered to front doors. But police say that thieves are now canvassing neighborhoods looking for packages to steal.

News 12 New Jersey has received many video clips from home security cameras of people stealing packages. But police say that it can be very hard to catch these thieves in the act.

“Unless you have patrols all over the place, on every block, it’s hard to catch and then they leave town,” says Hoboken Police Lt. Eduardo Cruze.

RELATED: Jersey City PD, Amazon work together to catch package thieves 
RELATED: Got him! Security video captures porch pirate in action 

Jersey City police recently conducted a sting to catch alleged porch thieves. They placed decoy packages around the city with GPS devices inside.

But police say that some of the responsibility to prevent thefts belongs to the homeowner.

“Arrange with the carrier to send to a trusted neighbor. They have safe boxes sometimes in lobbies or in a secure mail room. Or have it delivered to another location where they won’t be able to get it,” Lt. Cruze says.

Police encourage anyone who falls victim to a “porch pirate” to report the theft to them. They says that many people don't call the police, but rather go straight to the retailers hoping for a replacement.