Amazon now offers in-garage delivery to all US Prime grocery shoppers in a bid to curb 'porch piracy'

• Amazon is expanding in-garage delivery for groceries to 5,000 towns and cities across the US.
• Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market customers need a smart garage door lock to pick the delivery option.
• In-garage and in-home delivery options help Amazon to curb porch thefts.

Amazon said Tuesday that all Prime members using Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market could have groceries delivered to their garages when they're not at home.

Before Tuesday, this was only offered in five cities.

Customers need a connected smart garage door lock so the delivery person can let themselves in, Amazon said. Amazon also recommends that shoppers watch the delivery on a smart-home camera.

Amazon launched "Key by Amazon" in 2017 as a way for people to get items delivered into their home when they were away. In 2018, it started "in-garage" delivery for packages, which is now available in 4,000 cities across the US.

Read more: I'm a criminal justice expert who studies porch piracy. Here's my advice for retailers who don't want their customers' packages to get stolen.

In late 2020, it expanded garage delivery to groceries, too. As of Tuesday, customers in 5,000 towns and cities, where Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market online grocery deliveries are offered, will be able to pick it as a delivery option.

Amazon's in-home and in-garage delivery is, in part, designed to prevent packages and groceries from being stolen from your doorstep - and in turn, to save Amazon money.

Thefts by so-called "porch pirates" lead to millions of dollars worth of lost products every day, costing online retailers like Amazon considerable amounts of money.