Max’s Vault protects Northville Twp. residents from porch pirates
Pictured is Max, the Northville Township Police Department’s therapy dog.
Porch pirates have found their nemesis.
The Northville Township Police Department will offer Operation Max’s Vault for the second straight holiday season.
The free program allows residents who online shop to send their purchases to the Police Department instead of their home address between Nov. 1 and Jan.1, 2025. This reduces the opportunity for theft.
In a 2023 survey by SafeWise, an estimated 119 million packages were stolen in the United States in the past year.
People fear it happening more, with 65% of respondents report being more worried about theft than in previous years.
In November and December 2023, Northville Township Police reported nine incidents of theft of mail or packages, while the Oakland/Western Wayne/Washtenaw area recorded 81 incidents.
Here’s how it works
That’s where Operation Max’s Vault comes in. This temporary package storage solution permits purchases under 50 pounds to be sent to the Police Department in care of Max’s Vault, named after the Department’s therapy dog.
The parcels are stored in a secured area. The package owner must pick up the delivery within five days of its arrival. In 2023, the Police Department logged 31 uses of Operation Max’s Vault.
Of course there are some safety rules. The deliveries cannot contain hazardous materials, flammable liquids, illegal contraband, live animals, weapons or ammunition.
Shipping instructions
To ship a package, use the following addressee format:
[Recipient Name]
c/o Max’s Vault
41600 Six Mile Road
Northville, MI 48168
Any unclaimed packages after Jan. 1, 2025, will be held at the Police Department for one week and attempts will be made to contact the owner. If the resident doesn’t respond, the packages will be returned to the sender.
Operation Max’s Vault demonstrates how innovative and pro-active the Township Police Department is with its robust series of crime prevention programs, including Operation Max’s Vault. Northville Township residents are safer when they follow best practices during the busy holiday season.
