This will be 100% normal, barely discussed, over the hill, universal in 5 years.

Why only in 5 years? Shouldn't something like this already be normal in China?

As long as criminals find something more lucrative than stealing packages, I agree.

Package theft could be solved in many other ways, like having a proper drop-bin.

Or you could impose pervasive surveillance on every house in the neighborhood, inside and out.

I don't know what a proper drop bin looks like. If it's large enough for all packages, it's automatically large enough for someone to fit inside of.

The closest sufficient thing I can think of is a front patio that I'd leave unlocked for a mailman/mailwoman. They can then lock it if they leave a package, but I know the mail industry too well. The chances of having a carrier that actually locks things is pretty low. The problem has originated largely by an industry that delivers packages without concern of the theft that might occur. So you're going to blame me if I get fed up with theft and decide to install something that attempts every possible method of cooperating with police to prevent crime?

All I can say is, I hope you get every package stolen off your porch this holiday season. Maybe those "less fortunate" will benefit and you can be thankful for that.

"On the one hand, yes, this brings us closer to a dystopian all-seeing surveillance state which tracks every private citizens' movements at all times. But on the other hand, it's really damned inconvenient to have to get my packages at the nearest Whole Foods or even just ask Amazon to send another one."